My Interpretation

At my current age and life experience, I tend to see two stories in the Bible differently than I would have as a younger man. The first one is that of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10:38-42 (ERV):

While Jesus and his followers were traveling, he went into a town, and a woman named Martha let him stay at her house.  She had a sister named Mary. Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him teach.  Her sister Martha was busy doing all the work that had to be done. Martha went in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are getting worried and upset about too many things.  Only one thing is important. Mary has made the right choice, and it will never be taken away from her.”

Traditionally sermons I’ve heard have made the focus of this narrative to worship Jesus, and not to be overly caught up with the cares of this world. Martha is never usually presented in an extremely positive light in this story.

Please note, Mary and Martha’s brother (and Jesus close friend), Lazarus, may have been present in this story though his presence is not mentioned. Jesus would later raise him from the dead as mentioned in John 11:45-57.

For the past twenty-three years, I’ve had the privilege of being married to a “Martha” wife. Bobbi has the heart of a servant. She feels most complete as a Christian female when she is giving to others of her time, talent, or emotions (whether that is family, friend, or animal).

Yes, Martha should have carved out some quality time with Jesus, but someone had to make sure Jesus and His disciples were fed. Hungry men are not happy men. (I speak this from experience.)

My second story in question is Luke 15:11-32 (ERV), The Prodigal (or Lost) Son.

 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.  The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me now the part of your property that I am supposed to receive someday.’ So the father divided his wealth between his two sons.

 “A few days later the younger son gathered up all that he had and left. He traveled far away to another country, and there he wasted his money living like a fool.  After he spent everything he had, there was a terrible famine throughout the country. He was hungry and needed money.  So he went and got a job with one of the people who lived there. The man sent him into the fields to feed pigs.  He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.

 “The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat.  I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’  So he left and went to his father.

 “While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming and felt sorry for him. So he ran to him and hugged and kissed him.  The son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and good sandals on his feet.  And bring our best calf and kill it so that we can celebrate with plenty to eat.  My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!’ So they began to have a party.

 “The older son had been out in the field. When he came near the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing.  So he called to one of the servant boys and asked, ‘What does all this mean?’  The boy said, ‘Your brother has come back, and your father killed the best calf to eat. He is happy because he has his son back safe and sound.’

 “The older son was angry and would not go in to the party. So his father went out and begged him to come in.  But he said to his father, ‘Look, for all these years I have worked like a slave for you. I have always done what you told me to do, and you never gave me even a young goat for a party with my friends.  But then this son of yours comes home after wasting your money on prostitutes, and you kill the best calf for him!’

 “His father said to him, ‘Oh, my son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But this was a day to be happy and celebrate. Your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found.’”

Pastors (I’ve known) that have preached on this scripture passage, say the father represents God. The younger brother is a sinner returned to his Christian life. The scriptures regarding the older brother are either excluded, or he’s spoken of so unfavorably that no one wants to be him.

Though scripture does not record this, I wonder if the request of the younger son for his inheritance was just a cry to a workaholic dad to be validated by a child that desperately needed his time and attention.

 The younger son may have decided to hit him where it hurt so the message was loud and clear. Would you agree this speculation sure doesn’t make the dad look entirely innocent over his younger son leaving?

As for the feelings of the older son, look at it this way. How upset would you be if you were up for a promotion at your company, and the boss’s nephew (Sowren) got it instead?

You show up at work on-time, dressed immaculately, and ready to daily excel in your job. On the other hand, Sowren (who is three years younger than you) often shows up late, dresses sloppily and smells (like he rolled out of a dumpster), has no clue what he’s doing in his current position, and only got this new job because he’s related to the boss(or at least that’s how you see it). Wouldn’t you be upset? Can you understand now where the older son is coming from?

I’ve always believed God wants us to delve into the Bible (and good religious literature) to expand our understanding of becoming all that our Heavenly Father desires of us. God never wants us to stop asking Him all our questions. Don’t be afraid of answers. The truth is available if you want it. Just it out.