“We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection.”
(Hebrews 12:2 TPT)
The story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10 is generally portrayed as “Mary was good because she chose Jesus,” and “Martha was bad because she didn’t.” Like most black-or-white depictions, I think there’s more to see.
“Now while they were on their way, Jesus entered a village [called Bethany], and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching. But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.” But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 AMP)
-Martha was the oldest sibling, evidently the head of the household, and opened her home to Jesus in a generous act of hospitality.
-Mary was not helping Martha with the tasks of hospitality.
-Martha was distracted, worried, busy, cumbered or upset* with all the work to be done for Jesus’s visit and interrupted Jesus’s teaching to ask him to send Mary to help her.
-Mary was listening, absorbing, and continually hearing* what Jesus was teaching. In a culture where even educating a woman was considered wrong, Jesus was allowing Mary to sit at his feet, in the posture of a pupil. This was a radical paradigm shift for women in that culture.
-Martha was chastised by Jesus for being worried, upset, troubled, pulled away, anxious, bothered, and distracted* by many things. Martha was not chastised for her work, but for her attitude.
– Mary was praised by Jesus for having chosen the good, right, and better* part. Jesus commends her choice to sit and listen and says he will not take this “better thing” away from her.
Perhaps, like me, you lean more toward the “Martha” personality than the “Mary” and find it hard to read this passage without feeling somewhat condemned. After all, Martha was working for Jesus. She had generously opened up her home to him and was preparing a meal for him – and maybe the disciples. If so, the meal prepared was substantive work. Mary wasn’t helping at all; instead she was sitting. Understandably, Martha was irritated. I would be, too.
But why did Jesus have to call Martha’s name twice? Put yourself in the scene:
Was it because she (I) was (am) too busy to hear him the first time? Did Jesus shake his head when he said her (my) name at first, knowing she (I) wouldn’t hear him yet? Did the second time cut through to her (my) attention?
Did he smile when he said her (my) name?
Was Jesus’s first mention of her (my) name gentle and the second more commanding?
If you were directing a play with this scene there would be many ways to dramatize those two names. However, the point remains that Jesus had to get Martha’s attention somehow.
Do we become so focused on our tasks – especially those done for God! – that God has to work to secure our attention? Does our attitude toward others suffer when we are busy? Do we miss the gift of sitting with Jesus, listening to him? To answer honestly, I have to admit “yes” and maybe you struggle with this, too. I don’t think it’s “bad” to work but when the work inhibits our ability to choose, hear, and enjoy God, that’s when we find ourselves out of balance.
Even in the mist of worthwhile and valuable work, let us not lose our focus on the voice of our Savior.
Loving God,
Thank you for meaningful and worthwhile work you give us to do in this life. Thank you for the invitation to sit at your feet, learn from you, and bask in your Goodness and Grace. Help us to quiet our hearts so we can hear your Voice call to us and then respond. Help us keep our hearts tender toward you, no matter what our circumstances, and to remain focused on your Voice. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
* Different Bible translations use a variety of words in this verse.
“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated with finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”” (Luke 10:38-42 TPT)