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1. Introduction

   Brothers and sisters will often get into arguments with each other as they are growing up. Sometimes these traits carry over into adulthood, especially when one sibling still displays the childish behavior they did when they were younger. In Luke 10:38-42 we see the story of two sisters and how Jesus responded to their situation.

2. Verse 38

   Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house.

   This verse tells us a lot about Martha. She was hospitable and wanted to help Jesus and his disciples. In order to host the large group that was traveling with Jesus, she must have had a good store of food and her house must have been large. Since she apparently had no servants, she must have been a very responsible and industrious person to have such a large supply of foodstuff. Not only had she been hard-working in building up her stores of provisions, but she was willing to share it with others to help in the ministry.

   Adam Clarke wrote in 1825, "Kindly received, she received him in a friendly manner, under her roof; and entertained him hospitably. So the word is used in the best Greek writers."

   Everyone has different talents and abilities. But our abilities are no good to anyone else until we are willing to share them with others. Not all can play a musical instrument, not all can sing in the choir, not all can bring the Sunday sermon. But all of us have gifts that we can share. We have talents and abilities that the Lord has given us to be a blessing to others. Marthaˇ¦s talent was in her organization and resourcefulness. This is a good talent to have. And she was willing to share what she had with others.

   Her decision to host Jesus and the disciples involved a large sacrifice on her part. It meant she would have to be doing a lot of hard work to prepare all the food for such a large group. And it meant that she would be donating much of her time in the preparations. It also meant she had to be willing to part with some of her food stores which no doubt were accumulated with a great deal of effort. But she wanted to help, so she was willing to go through all this trouble. How much trouble are we willing to go through to be a blessing to others? Sometimes it may involve a great deal of our time and effort and even our resources. Are we as willing as Martha was to reach out and be a blessing to others?

3. Verse 39

   And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.

   Martha had a sister named Mary. She was probably younger. As Kerr informs us, "From the fact that the house into which Jesus was received belonged to Martha, and that she generally took the lead in action, it is inferred that she was the elder sister."

   Mary was one of these people who led with her heart. Later in John 12:3 we see her anointing Jesusˇ¦ feet with spikenard. But now she is sitting at his feet. She was fascinated by Jesusˇ¦ teaching. She wanted to learn as much as she could from him. She listened intently to every word he said.

   Matthew Henry commented in 1721, "She sat to hear which denotes a close attention. Her mind was composed, and she resolved to abide by it: not to catch a word now and then, but to receive all that Christ delivered. ... Our sitting at Christˇ¦s feet, when we hear his word, signifies a readiness to receive it, and a submission and entire resignation of ourselves to the guidance of it."

   We could ask ourselves how interested are we in the teaching of Jesus? Do we spend time alone with him, at his feet, each day to learn from him? Do we spend time reading his teachings in the Bible? Are we faithful to church? Or are we too busy to spend time learning about Jesus and his teaching? Many of us have very busy schedules, but we need to make time for God in our daily routine.

4. Verse 40

   But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

   Martha was distracted with all the work. It had turned out to be a bigger job than she had anticipated. And instead of helping her, her little sister was just sitting down. Perhaps Mary had been this way as a child ˇX a little on the lazy side, always trying to think of ways to get out of work. Perhaps this was what Martha was thinking: thereˇ¦s my lazy sister not willing to help just like when she was younger.

   You see Martha had become so involved in all her duties, that she wasnˇ¦t listening to what Jesus was teaching. She didnˇ¦t stop to think that perhaps Mary needed this instruction at this time. All Martha could think of was her own concerns, and her own embarrassment at not being able to keep up with the serving.

   Sometimes we get so busy doing our own things, that we lose sight of what others may need. It is interesting to me that the Greek word used here for serving is < diakoni&on> diakonian which is usually translated deacon, or ministering in some official capacity in the church. Notice this verse says that Martha was distracted by much serving, much deaconing.

   There are times when we get so involved in our own ministry in the church that we lose sight of the needs of others. As a minister, and we are all ministers, our job is to serve others; not to have others serve us. Ideally, our priority in the church would be: how are we to help others. Our duties should not distract us so much that we lose sight of why we are doing it ˇX to be a blessing to others.

   I think Martha had very high standards, and she was alarmed that she was falling behind in her duties. She may have been the only one to notice this, but it bothered her greatly. She wanted to be blessing to others, but instead she was starting to appear as an inept hostess. She became frustrated and confused.

   If we ever get this way, McGee gives some good advice, "My frustrated, confused friend, are you at that corner of life where you do not know which way to turn? Then, for goodness sake, sit down. Sit at Jesusˇ¦ feet. Look in His Word and see what He has to say. It will help you with your housework. It will make you a better dishwasher. It will help you sweep the floors cleaner. You will dig a better ditch, mow a better lawn, and study your lesson better. Your work at the office will be easier, and you will be able to drive your car better. Just take time to sit at the feet of Jesus. Mary chose the best part."

5. Verse 41

   But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things."

   Notice that Jesus doesnˇ¦t condemn Martha for trying to be a good hostess. Rather, he tells her that the problem is she has become anxious and troubled over these things. She had lost her perspective of why she was serving in the first place. She wanted to do something nice to help out ˇX to be an encouragement and help to Jesus and his followers. But she lost sight of her mission. It was not to appear as a wonderful, competent hostess. Rather, her mission should have been, and probably was at first, to facilitate Jesus ˇX to give him a place to teach others, and to be able to minister to his needs. She had lost sight of that and actually interrupted Jesusˇ¦ teaching to vent her frustrations.

   Barnes commented in 1871, "From this interesting narrative we learn: (1.) That the cares of this life are dangerous, even when they seem to be most lawful and commendable. Nothing of a worldly nature could have been more proper than to provide for the Lord Jesus, and supply his wants. Yet even for this, because it too much engrossed her mind, the Lord Jesus gently reproved her. So a care for our families may be the means of our neglecting religion, and losing our souls. (2.) It is of more importance to attend to the instructions of the Lord Jesus, than to be engaged in the affairs of the world. The one will abide for ever; the other will be but for a little time."

   Have we lost sight of what is important? Are we busy doing many things, but we donˇ¦t have any time for God? Is our work for the Lord causing us to be anxious and troubled? If so, then we have forgotten the reason why we are serving him in the first place. Lord, help us to put things in the proper perspective. This is what Jesus does for Martha in the next verse.

6. Verse 42

   One thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.

   Jesus gently rebukes Martha. Concerning Maryˇ¦s good choice, Brown points out, "...not in the general sense of...good in opposition to bad; but, of two good ways of serving and pleasing the Lord, choosing the better."

   All that Martha was doing was important, but it wasnˇ¦t the most important thing in Godˇ¦s kingdom. Our work in the church, or with our family, or on the job may be important, but it is not the most important thing in Godˇ¦s kingdom. If we are so busy with other things that we donˇ¦t have time to pray, or time to read the Bible, or time to share our faith with others, then we are too busy.

   Jesus said that even though what Martha was doing was important, there was only one thing that was needful. What was that one thing? It was sitting at Jesus feet learning from his teaching. When we neglect time alone with God, and when we neglect time learning from his word, we may become anxious and troubled about many things. But there is only one thing that is needful. Letˇ¦s not neglect it in our life.

7. John 11:5

   Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Laz'arus.

   I wanted to end with this verse. It is easy for us to think that Jesus showed favor to Mary and disfavor to Martha. But this verse tells us that he loved both Martha and Mary. He wanted what was the very best for both of them. There may be times when we get frustrated and troubled like Martha. We may be so upset as to say or do foolish things. Then we may feel that God doesnˇ¦t love us anymore.

   But notice that Jesus loved Martha and Mary. He loves you. No matter how often we fail him, no matter what messes we may get ourselves into, he still loves us. He is willing to help us. There may be times when he gently rebukes us, as he did to Martha, but he always does it out of love. No matter how much you may think that you have failed God, remember that Jesus loves you just as much as he loved these two sisters. He cares for you, and he will take care of you.

Footnotes:

1. This study on Luke 10:38-42 and John 11:5 ? 1997 by David Humpal. All rights reserved.
2. All scriptures unless otherwise noted are from the Revised Standard Version ?1971, A. J. Holman Company
3. Adam Clarkeˇ¦s Commentary, electronic version ?1996 Biblesoft
4. Kerr: International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, electronic database, ?1996 Biblesoft
5. Matthew Henryˇ¦s Commentary, vol. V, pg. 689, MacDonald Publishing Company
6. Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, vol. 4, pg. 294 ?1983
7. Barnesˇ¦ Notes on the New Testament pg. 214, Kregel Publications
8. David Brown: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary, vol. III, pg. 258, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company