38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 38-42 ESV
Luke 10: 38-42
Spurgeon sets the context for this compact classic contrast in Luke 10:38-42 of contemplation and work - Our wise Master next returns to the subject of service, and instructs them by the memorable parable of the Good Samaritan and the wounded man. And then as if they might vainly imagine philanthropy, as it is the service of Christ, to be the only service of Christ, and to be the only thing worth living for, He brings in the two sisters of Bethany. The Holy Spirit meant thereby to teach us that while we ought to abound in service, and to do good abundantly to our fellow men, yet we must not fail in worship, in spiritual reverence, in meek discipleship, and quiet contemplation. While we are practical, like the seventy; practical like the Samaritan; practical like Martha, we are also like the Savior, to rejoice in spirit, and say, “Father, I thank You,” (Lk 10:21) and we are also like Mary, to sit down in quietude, and nourish our souls with divine truths. (Martha and Mary) - Precept Austin
As they went on their way - We have just left the encounter with the lawyer, and Jesus' answer to him through the parable of the Good Samaritan. This comes following on the heels of the question, "who is my neighbor?" Remember there were two parts to understanding the law and the prophets, and they were encapsulated in the summation of "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love thy neighbor as thyself."
…36“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment.… Matthew 22: 36-38
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Luke 10: 25-28
A woman named Martha welcomed Him - Jesus was not welcome in every village, and welcoming Him would be no small thing, since He had, at most times, the twelve with Him also. Some do not consider these things when they look at Martha, but the intent of the passage is not to paint her as the bad guy, but to teach her and all of us a valuable lesson. As you will see in the passage, Martha is the sister of Mary, and elsewhere we learn that she is also the sister of Lazarus. She is also a great representation of the second part of the answer regarding the law, she facilitates, coordinates, serves, and therefore loves her neighbor. Jesus does not live in her town, He needs a place to stay and food to eat, so for Martha, He is her neighbor.
34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” Luke 10: 34-37
…38When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ 40And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’… Matthew 25: 38-40
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching - It's not everyday that you get a visitor like this, and this is God, teaching the word, expounding the truths of Scripture. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, all this, right here in Martha's living room, and her little sister wants to hear what He has to say. How else do you get to know Who God is, how do you even begin to realize what Christ's represents? You have to listen, and she is more than a little intrigued, so she sits up close where she can hear, at his feet. This is an art form for people like me, people whose minds can drift off so easily, or become stuck on a certain point along the way. We all need to go to a church whose teachers are under the authority of Scripture, and they need to put Scripture at the forefront of their message. I don't go to Sunday service in order to learn about them, I will grab a cup of coffee or go fishing with them in order to do that, but what we all need is for them to take us to the higher pastures, to graze upon the truths of God brought to us in Scripture. I need to learn how to listen like Mary, to be so engaged with what the Lord is communicating through His word. I have to block out the other distractions, stop thinking about what or where we are going to eat later, whether the wind is in the right direction for fishing, or what problems my bosses could be creating at work. I need to be at Jesus feet, focused and taking it in, so I have something to digest for the rest of the day.
In fact, we're going to take Mary's posture. We're going to start sitting at His feet and we're going to get as close as we can and your job is to going to be like Mary. Your job is going to sit and listen to what He says. And my job is going to be to tell you what He said and what He meant by what He said. And He's going to teach us about prayer and He's going to teach us about Satan and more about demons. And He's going to teach us about divine judgment and about hypocrisy and about persecution and about suffering and about the Holy Spirit. He's going to warn us about greed. He's going to instruct us about contentment, about how to use money, how to give, how to be a steward. There are going to be lessons on unity, lessons on righteousness and holiness. There is instruction on divine justice, on humility, on pride, on the cost of loyalty to Christ, on the kingdom of God and how to enter it. He's going to teach us about how heaven rejoices when sinners are converted. He's even going to teach us about divorce, about hell, about penitence, about forgiveness and a lot about faith. And our Lord's teaching is unequaled, wouldn't you agree? Monumental. And there's only one posture for this and that's to be there at His feet like Mary was. And that's why He drops this incredibly wonderful little story. It's as if the teacher comes into our lives and says, "All right, students, sit down, we're going to begin class." And class went for six months. For us, it could be six years. I heard somebody say that. But we have to do a lot of recreating of the scene, you understand. - J Mac
So we have a much fuller understanding of who Martha is, who Mary is, and what their relationship to Christ is, let's read John 11:
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Jesus Weeps
28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus Raises Lazarus
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11: 1-44
But Martha was distracted with much serving - In many cultures women were not deemed learners, and some Jewish Rabbis even commented that it was useless to teach a woman. The roles God assigns to different sexes does not exclude either from learning, in fact, this is the essential thing, for each individual has to know God for themselves. In the later epistles to the churches, older women are instructed to teach the younger women, and in the OT women are to be teachers of their children. You can't teach if you haven't learned, and these roles are essential to godly living, to the foundation of a God fearing society. The family is at the very core of civilization, and the neglect of sound learning and teaching there can be disastrous. In modern times I have heard men say that they are too busy to teach their families about God or to attend a place of worship that focuses on sound doctrine. They deem the spiritual aspects of the family as up to their wives, and fall into disobedience to God's call for them as leaders. Martha is distracted by serving, but I know many men that put a premium on watching football, fishing, or just laying around, rather than going to church (I was one of them). You begin to see the picture of the OT law, where the Sabbath was set apart as holy, and God gave them enough manna on Friday to carry them through Saturday, the Sabbath day. It removed the busy excuses, untied them from the yoke and allowed them to sit at Jesus' feet, learn from them word, contemplate the kingdom, rid their minds of distractions. The law was extended to men, women, animals, and even foreigners, otherwise the men would have had the women go out and work, or the foreigner. Everyone needs rest, and everyone needs both types of food.
…3The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4: 3-4
20My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 21Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.… Proverbs 6: 20-21
…3Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers or addicted to much wine, but teachers of good. 4In this way they can train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.… Titus 2: 3-5
Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone - Martha is obviously busy with service to who knows how many people, and she sees her sister, seemingly just sitting there. In her mind, Mary is not doing her part, for Martha obviously thinks what she is doing is more important, and that her sister should be picking up the other side of this as well. "Leave the learning to the men, help me with the flat bread and donair." Sadly, she is not only trying to correct Mary, but also Jesus, and she does at least call Him Lord, for this family follows Christ. but is she right?
Tell her then to help me - She clearly thinks she holds the high ground here.
You are anxious and troubled about many things - Remember when Christ told the disciples to feed the multitudes? The miraculous meal that followed was also very simple, just some fish and bread. We should do our best with the talents God has given us, but we should not remove ourselves or others from the most essential things. Sadly, when I was a child, and this still goes on today, there were people in the church that worried about being able to concentrate or relax during service, and so they didn't want their small children in there. Instead of bringing their children to service and teaching them how to behave, they instead paid a woman to always miss service and stay with the children in another room. She was always kept busy, away from the feet of Jesus so to speak, but recalling some of the sermons there, probably not so much.
Spurgeon - Agitated, distressed Martha was afraid that something would go wrong with the dinner. She had too much on her hands (Ed: Or as we might say today "too much on her plate!") — too much on her brain. That led her to blame her sister Mary, and to try to get the Lord to blame her too. There is a strong tincture of self-righteousness in Martha’s speech.
Leon Morris on you are worried (merimnao) - Jesus repeatedly warned his disciples against undue anxiety, as he does Martha. They were not to worry about the cares of everyday life (Lk 12:22; cf. Matt 6:25, 34), for this is unproductive and incompatible with faith in a loving heavenly Father, who cares for the needs of his children (Lk 12:23–30). Even in the face of trials, disciples were not to “worry about how to defend yourself or what to say” (Lk 12:11–12; cf. Matt 10:19–20); God would supply all their needs if they would make his Kingdom their primary concern (Lk 12:31; cf. Matt 6:33; Phil 4:6–7; 1 Pet 5:7). (Borrow The Gospel According to St. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary - Tyndale NT Commentary) - Precept Austin
…5Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.… Philippians 4: 5-7
But one thing is necessary - Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
…3Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust. 4One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple. 5For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.… Psalm 27: 3-5
THOUGHT - That is the deepest need of every man or woman's soul, God's Word. The vitality of our spiritual lives depend on our intake of the Word (1Pe 2:2+). We make the choice to imbibe the living and active Word and the Spirit takes that Word in our heart and supernaturally (yea, even mysteriously) transforms us from glory to glory into greater degrees of Christlikeness (2 Cor 3:18+). By the Word ingested we grow in faith (Ro 10:17+). Jesus summed up our need in His refutation of the devil's temptation declaring to the Tempter "It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” (Mt 4:4, cp Lk 4:4). Of course just hearing (or reading or studying) the Word of God is not enough. We have to obey it for the Spirit to use it in our life to transform us. Jesus said "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Lk 11:28) As Don Whitney says "No factor is more influential (Ed: cp "one thing...necessary") in making us more like the Son of God than the Spirit of God working through the Word of God." - Precept Austin
Spurgeon - Lord, enable me to be a non-anxious one. May I be so eager after heavenly things, that I altogether leave my earthly cares with thee! Let us spend life on the one thing, and it will be well spent: as for the twenty secondary objects, they also will be ours if we pursue the one thing only.
Mary has chosen the good portion which will not be taken away from her - The Pharisees could not understand the disciples rejoicing in the bridegroom, and Martha could not perceive that her sister had found better food. The Lord is only with them for a short time, and His words are the words of life. I hope one day that my kids will know that feeling when they touch the Bible, the words which men have bled and died in order to bring to us. When we handle it, it is more precious than any earthly thing. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's word will remain. That is real food in deed. She has chosen to know Christ by listening to His word, and being reconciled to God through it. She is learning in every phrase Who He is, and what is most important.
…2For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. 3Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only TRUE God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. 4I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.… John 17: 2-4
