What Jesus said to Martha about Mary

Martha was rushing all over the place trying to make things work -- after all, this was no ordinary Guest.

And she's FED UP! Look at Mary over there, that little twerp. Playing little Miss Spiritual sitting at the feet of Jesus. Why do I have to do all this work?

"Jesus, make Mary do something!"

"Martha, Martha, you are distracted by much work, but Mary has chosen the better part..."

This historic comment can easily be taken to mean that sitting at the feet of Jesus is always better than actively serving.

But let's consider the circumstances a little more closely.

Jesus' comment to Martha was prompted by Martha's complaint about Mary. Would Jesus even have said anything if Martha hadn't first complained?

I doubt it. Maybe Jesus was enjoying how Martha, out of her devotion, was busying herself with readying the house. That's the way Martha was wired.

I don't think Jesus was thinking this: "Hmm, well let's see: this one is sitting here listening to me -- good for her! -- while that one, well, I'll just keep silent because, what can you do? Some people just cant help being busybodies..."

I just don't think Jesus was thinking anything of the sort. Again, his comment to Martha was prompted by her complaint, and the attitude driving that complaint. It was not necessarily prompted by what she was doing.

So the "having chosen something better" on Mary's part was the purity of her heart in focusing on Jesus, not the activity itself of sitting there with Him.

Consider: what if the following was what transpired?:

Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus, but she's FED UP! Look at that louse Martha. Here is Jesus Christ Himself, in Person, and all she does is broom the kitchen, for crying out loud!

"Jesus, make Martha come and sit here!!!"

"Mary, Mary ..."

Logos2Go

Luke 10.38-42 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”