Family Disharmonies
G. S. Bowes, B. A. John 11:1-6 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.… What can be more irksome than to hear two sisters continually setting each other right upon trifling points, and differing from each other in opinion for no apparent reason but from a habit of contradiction? This family fault should be watched against; for it is an annoyance, though but a petty one, never to be able to open your lips without being harassed by such contradictions as, "Oh no! that happened on Tuesday, not Wednesday;" or if you remark that the clouds look threatening, to be asked in a tone of surprise, "Do you think it looks like rain? I am sure there is no appearance of such a thing." Narrate an incident, every small item is corrected; hazard an opinion, it is wondered at or contradicted; assert a fact, it is doubted or questioned; till at length you keep silence in despair. (G. S. Bowes, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. WEB: Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.