38 Now
it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman
named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also
sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving,
and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left
me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many
things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which
will not be taken away from her.”
Commentary
In this brief section we hear of two-woman sisters who were disciples of Jesus. One was named Martha and the other was named Mary (who is to be distinguished from Mary the wife of Joseph). And so, it was that as Jesus journeyed with the twelve that they were received by Martha who welcomed Him into her house (vs. 38). Now Mary was captivated by the teachings of Jesus and so she sat at His feet and heard His Word (vs. 39). Martha on the other hand was distracted with much serving, running around trying to do this thing and that, and though not a bad thing in wanting to be a good host, she was actually missing out on being with and hearing Jesus while He was speaking in her own house! And so, Martha preoccupied with her much serving only becomes increasingly frustrated at her sister Mary; whom I’m sure she shot a few looks at; for not helping her, and yet she does not realize what she is missing! And so she comes to Jesus annoyed at her sister and says to Him, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” vs. 40 Now Martha’s appeal to Jesus is somewhat manipulative, because of course Jesus cares about her and us in all of our labors and efforts for Him. That said, Jesus never told Martha that she needed to do all that she was doing. For I’m quite convinced if Martha would’ve stopped and sat beside her sister Mary, Jesus (and everyone else there) would’ve said nothing, and thought nothing of her doing so. However, Martha in her desire to have everything just so had created her own dilemma, and instead of taking in that precious moment as her sister was, she was only overwhelmed by all that “needed” to be done. And so she comes to Jesus with an “appeal”, telling Him to tell her sister Mary to come and help her (vs. 40).
Now Jesus in responding to Martha is not indifferent to her frustration, for He first says to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things…” (vs. 41) Thus Jesus in a tone of understanding acknowledges Martha and her efforts; that she is worried and troubled about many things. That said, Jesus does not fulfill her desire and tell Mary to go and serve with her, because He then says to her, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (vs. 42) For the Privilege of Hearing God’s Word spoken by God’s Son always trumps the menial tasks and services of this life. The good part then is to hear the Word of Life, and not let it get chocked out by the daily tasks and chores of our lives. For these will always get done, but taking time out for time with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word will not get done unless one makes a concerted effort to do so. And so, Mary chose the good part which will not be taken from her, for everyone who seeks the Words of the Lord Jesus Christ will have them given to them (Matt. 7:7-8).
Scripture Quotations
Commentary
In this brief section we hear of two-woman sisters who were disciples of Jesus. One was named Martha and the other was named Mary (who is to be distinguished from Mary the wife of Joseph). And so, it was that as Jesus journeyed with the twelve that they were received by Martha who welcomed Him into her house (vs. 38). Now Mary was captivated by the teachings of Jesus and so she sat at His feet and heard His Word (vs. 39). Martha on the other hand was distracted with much serving, running around trying to do this thing and that, and though not a bad thing in wanting to be a good host, she was actually missing out on being with and hearing Jesus while He was speaking in her own house! And so, Martha preoccupied with her much serving only becomes increasingly frustrated at her sister Mary; whom I’m sure she shot a few looks at; for not helping her, and yet she does not realize what she is missing! And so she comes to Jesus annoyed at her sister and says to Him, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.” vs. 40 Now Martha’s appeal to Jesus is somewhat manipulative, because of course Jesus cares about her and us in all of our labors and efforts for Him. That said, Jesus never told Martha that she needed to do all that she was doing. For I’m quite convinced if Martha would’ve stopped and sat beside her sister Mary, Jesus (and everyone else there) would’ve said nothing, and thought nothing of her doing so. However, Martha in her desire to have everything just so had created her own dilemma, and instead of taking in that precious moment as her sister was, she was only overwhelmed by all that “needed” to be done. And so she comes to Jesus with an “appeal”, telling Him to tell her sister Mary to come and help her (vs. 40).
Now Jesus in responding to Martha is not indifferent to her frustration, for He first says to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things…” (vs. 41) Thus Jesus in a tone of understanding acknowledges Martha and her efforts; that she is worried and troubled about many things. That said, Jesus does not fulfill her desire and tell Mary to go and serve with her, because He then says to her, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (vs. 42) For the Privilege of Hearing God’s Word spoken by God’s Son always trumps the menial tasks and services of this life. The good part then is to hear the Word of Life, and not let it get chocked out by the daily tasks and chores of our lives. For these will always get done, but taking time out for time with the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word will not get done unless one makes a concerted effort to do so. And so, Mary chose the good part which will not be taken from her, for everyone who seeks the Words of the Lord Jesus Christ will have them given to them (Matt. 7:7-8).
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson
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