Lesson 6

WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

(Illustrating Titus 2:3-5)

Lesson Six

Mary and Martha: Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-45; John 12:1-8

        Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. (Titus 2:3-5, NAS/NIV)

Pre-study question:

1. How difficult is it for you to have people into your home?

MARTHA and MARY

Read Luke 10:38-42

2. What was the family relationship between Martha and Mary?
   
   

3. Who seems to be the owner of the home?
   
   

4. During Jesus' visit, what was Mary doing?
   
   

   What was Martha doing?

   
   

5.  
   1. Tell of the conflict between the two women.
      
      

   2. What was Martha's answer to the conflict?
      
      

   3. What was Jesus' response to the conflict?

   
   

6. How many people do you think would have been eating at Martha's home?
   
   

7. What words from vv. 40-41 tell of Martha's problem?
   
   

John 11:1-45

8. How did Jesus learn of Lazarus' illness?
   
   

9. In their separate responses, how do we know that both women were Jesus-centered and full of trust in His power?
   
   

John 12:1-8

10.  
    1. From the above reading, how do we see that the roles of the women had not changed?
       
       

    2. What indicates that the problem of Luke 10 was attitude, not role?

    
    

11. What other ways, besides listening, did Mary show her devotion to Jesus? How practical was this?
    
    

12. From this lesson, where do you see evidence of the following:
    
    1. Self-control?
       
       

    2. Purity?
       
       

    3. Workers at home?
       
       

    4. Kindness?
       
       

    5. In which area do you most need Jesus' help?

REFLECTIONS: Choose at least one of the following to discuss regarding your spiritual growth.

1. Tell what you think of how Jesus handled the conflict between the two women.
   
   

2. How do you feel when you have been an invited guest, but when you arrive, you see no evidence of preparation? What is the difference as a "drop-in" guest?
   
   

3. When we first met Martha, she was bothered by Mary's doing something else. By the time of John 12, both are still performing different roles, but things seem to be "ok". How much conflict would be avoided if people did not try to measure service (work, etc.) of others by their own?
   
   

4. List several duties of "modern" Martha's and Mary's:
   (examples)
   
   Martha: Takes a covered dish to the family with an illness
   Mary: WINGS devotional leader

Women IN God's Service

Women in the Bible - lesson 6
Ladies Bible Class Lesson, 2 May 2000
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, Arkansas