Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day”

John 11:24

Martha said she knew what Jesus said about the resurrection (Jn. 11:24). But did she know what Jesus told her? Did she understand? Jesus was talking about an event that would soon happen to reveal His glory to Martha, the raising of her dead brother. However, she got stuck in what she knew already. Jesus was talking about the present, but Martha thought about the future. She raced to the final resurrection of the dead. Yes, she expressed a spiritual truth, but she did not have the mind and bearing of the Lord, who is the Resurrection and the Life (25). Martha missed the point. And how often we hastily do the same.

Many times, we answer too quickly to the words we hear in our minds without allowing time for clarity and understanding. Presumption clouds our hearing and prevents comprehension, so we do not learn. We miss the point, just as Martha did.

Sometimes we desire to display our knowledge for recognition and applause. We boast in our understanding when we know nothing. We effectively tell the speaker to talk about something new. We communicate that we know and tell them not to waste our time. However, we end up displaying our ignorance. King Solomon has counsel to help us here. 

“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue” (Prov. 17:28). 

Other times, we get so absorbed in our troubles and suffering that we do not get the bearing of the person who is trying to comfort us. When we respond rashly, we express our depression and anxiety rather than an understanding of the concern and kindness of the other person. I believe that was the situation of Martha. She did not get it.

Hearing something that sounds familiar does not convey the message and intent of the speaker. Therefore, we must be careful not to conclude before hearing everything. Couples make this terrible mistake many times. It destroys communication and sucks the life out of the marriage. In such cases, insensitivity rules, leading to mutual frustration and heated arguments that often do not end well.

James sums it best for us. “Everyone should be quick to listen, [but] slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (Jas. 1:19).

May the Holy Spirit help us to hold our tongues before we speak without understanding.