Luke 10:38-4238Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and 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. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:38‑42)
There was one village on the way to Jerusalem, where Jesus was made welcome, at least to one home, that was the home of two sisters, Martha and Mary. They had a brother named Lazarus, and Jesus may have been at their home before, on His way to the feasts.
When so many refused Him, it must have been a joy to Him that these welcomed Him. In those times guests sat or reclined on couches, and others might sit on low stools or on the floor near Mary, who, perhaps, was the younger sister, sat at Jesus’ feet so she could listen to all His words.
Martha was worried about serving the meal to this guest, and thought Mary should come to help her. No doubt she wanted to serve a nice meal, and it seemed most neccesary of all things to her; she did not consider how important to hear each word of the Lord Jesus, the most wonderful Teacher there could be. She went to Jesus and said,
“Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.”
Jesus answered Martha kindly, but showed she had not chosen the most important thing as she thought. He said,
“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.”
What had Mary chosen? To listen to the words of Jesus, the Son of God. The meal served would soon be over, but the words Mary heard were for always. Perhaps Martha could have come and listened too, except she planned a great meal, for it says, she “was cumbered (burdened) about much serving,” and “careful and troubled about many things.”
If Martha had followed the example of the meals Jesus served, it would have been simple. He twice had served the people a meal of bread and fish, and after He was risen from the dead, He served another meal of bread and fish (John 21:9,139As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. (John 21:9)
13Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. (John 21:13)).
Martha seems to have learned from the Lord’s answer, because later it is written that she served Him and others, and no complaint, or “much serving” is written. (John 12:22There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. (John 12:2)). His answer so shows that He would rather wait for Himself to be served, than to have them miss His words.
When Mary listened so intently to Jesus, she learned what no one else did, not even the disciples; that He was to die as the sacrifice for her, and others, and because of that, she later brought the precious oil to anoint Him, which honored Him so greatly, He said it should always be remembered (John 12:3,73Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. (John 12:3)
7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. (John 12:7)).
It is right to share the tasks of a home and to do for others, for His sake, but first to plan to learn more of the Lord Jesus. Even work for Him is not so needed as that. Do we not often, like Martha, miss listening to the Lord’s words, because of work we plan to do?
ML 06/03/1945