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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 11:20 - 11:20
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20. ἡ οὖν Μάρθα. Martha therefore. As in Luk 10:40, she takes the lead in entertaining, while Mary shrinks from it; and she was probably now engaged in some duty of this kind. As elder sister, and apparently mistress of the house (Luk 10:38), information would naturally come to her first. Without waiting to tell her sister she hurries out to meet Jesus. It is incredible that the coincidence between S. John and S. Luke as regards the characters of the sisters should be either fortuitous or designed. It is much easier to believe that both give us facts about real persons.
ἔρχεται. Is coming; the exact word of the message. They were perhaps still looking for His arrival, although they believed that it was now too late for Him to aid. Unwilling to mingle at once in the crowd of conventional mourners, He halts outside the village.
ἐκαθέζετο. The attitude of sorrow and meditation (Job 2:13). She does not know of Christ’s approach (Joh 11:28-29): Martha, in discharging the duties of hospitality to fresh arrivals, would be more likely to hear of it.