The Lawyer could not but own that the Samaritan in the parable had best obeyed the commandment of Moses; and in answer to the question, "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves?" he said, "He that showed mercy on him." "Then said Jesus unto him, Go and do thou likewise," that is, copy this example; and look upon every man that needs your help as a neighbour and brother, whom you are to love; and take care that your love is not in word and tongue only, but in deed and in truth. Journeying through the land of Judæa with His disciples, Jesus "entered into a certain village"; this was Bethany, on the eastern side of the Mount of Olives: "and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus's feet and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving." Both these sisters loved the Lord, though they showed it in a very different way: Mary, delighted to have such an opportunity of listening to His teaching, sat at His feet to learn all that He might teach her; Martha, anxious to show her pleasure at receiving Jesus as her guest, appears to have busied herself in preparing a feast in His honour. Presently, tired with her exertions, and fearing that all might not be ready, "she came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me." But instead of doing this, Jesus rebuked Martha for thinking too much of worldly matters, instead of giving her mind to the "one thing needful" for the salvation of man: that one thing was faith in Jesus as the Son of God; such faith, as would produce piety and holiness; and that as Mary had chosen that good part, she must not be disturbed, but that Martha would do well to follow her example. When, therefore, Martha asked that Mary might be bid to help her, "Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Now, from this little history we should all learn this lesson: that though worldly business must be done, and well done, too, it must not take up too much of our thoughts and hearts, and so make us careless in our religious duties: to please and serve God in every way is the one thing needful for us.