Martha: Too Much Service?

JESUS’ visit to Martha’s home (Luke 10:38-42) has given rise to a caricature of Martha as obsessively “practical,” as opposed to Mary, her “spiritual” sister. In fact, some would use this incident to reinforce a hierarchy of “spiritual” concerns over “secular” ones: it is more important to “sit at Jesus’ feet”—that is, to engage in religious pursuits such as prayer or attending church—than to be “distracted” with everyday tasks such as work or household chores.

But it would be unfair to read Jesus’ words to Martha as a rebuke for her preparations. After all, He had come as a guest to her home with His disciples. Someone was obligated to prepare a meal—a large meal. Assuming Jesus and the Twelve, plus Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, there were at least sixteen hungry people. No wonder Martha was “distracted [literally, drawn away] with much serving” (Luke 10:40). She could not sit and chat with her guests if she was to prepare the food.

So what was Jesus getting at in verses 41 and 42? Only this: that in addition to her marvelous preparations, Martha needed to add spiritual sensitivity. He was in no way setting up a dichotomy between the sacred and the secular, but merely emphasizing that in the midst of her busyness, Martha should not lose sight of who He was and why He had come. Without question, Mary had that insight, and Jesus was keen to preserve it.

Apparently Martha profited from Jesus’ exhortation, for when her brother Lazarus died, she recognized His ability as the Christ to raise him from the dead (John 11:27).

Like Martha, we today are called on to strike a balance between faithful, diligent service in our day-to-day responsibilities and a constant attitude of dependence on the Lord.

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.