"Martha Martha" Luke 10:38-42

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

This was not the first time Jesus was asked if he cared. we think if it matters to us, it must matter to God. This is not always the case.

Mark 4:38-40 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

A certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house: Martha and Mary, along with their brother Lazarus, were two dear friends of Jesus who lived in Bethany. It’s easy to imagine that Martha wanted everything perfect when Jesus came to visit.

Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word: Martha didn’t get the help she wanted from her sister Mary. It wasn’t that Mary was lazy – she prepared as well as Martha, but Mary also sat at Jesus’ feet.

This was the posture of the Jewish scholars, while listening to the instructions of the rabbins. It is in this sense that St. Paul says he was brought up at the FEET of Gamaliel,

Acts 22:3 KJV 1900

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

The transfer of the anoiting takes place at the feet of the anoited. you won’t always understand them, but stay there., and be taught.

Martha was distracted with much serving: Martha did nothing wrong in working hard for Jesus – that was good. Her problem was that she became distracted with much serving. She was distracted from Jesus.

Distracted-having one's thoughts or attention drawn away : unable to concentrate or give attention to something. a distracted driver. … Can have a major accident.

There are many people who become crabby and irritable in their service for the Lord like Martha was. It is easy to look at all we do and to criticize those who don’t seem to do as much. But Martha’s real problem wasn’t Mary; it was Martha. She had become distracted and had taken her eyes off Jesus.

Martha’s frustration is typical of those who diligently serve with good intent, but forget to also sit at Jesus’ feet. “The Martha spirit says, if the work is done, is not that all? The Mary spirit asks whether Jesus is well pleased or no? All must be done in his name and by his Spirit, or nothing is done.” (Spurgeon)

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

#2***Martha, Martha: We can almost sense the love in Jesus’ voice as He said this. Martha did good – she wanted to serve Jesus; but she had not added the one thing[that] is needed. The Bible speaks of one thing.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Luke 18:22 KJV 1900

Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

We can get all your demands but God says one thing thou lackest.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)

“The one thing needful evidently is that which Mary chose — that good part which should not be taken away from her. Very clearly this was to sit at Jesus’ feet, and hear his word.” (Spurgeon)

John 15:7 KJV 1900

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

· To sit at the feet of Jesus implies readiness to accept and obey what Jesus teaches.

· To sit at the feet of Jesus implies submission to Jesus; rebellion is done with.

· To sit at the feet of Jesus implies faith in who Jesus is.

· To sit at the feet of Jesus implies discipleship.

· To sit at the feet of Jesus implies love.

“If we would be strong for service in the strength that prevents distraction and unrest, we must know what it is to find time amid all the duties of life to sit at His feet as disciples.” (Morgan)

It sad to see a person that is old and can’t be content, can’t be satisfied still running looking.

If you taught others you should know. But a person that can teach it but can’t do it is a Hypocrite. Just a good ol Hypocrite.

#3****Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her: Mary’s good part was her simple devotion to Jesus, loving Him by listening to His word. This was Mary’s chosen focus.

Imagine not that to sit at Jesus’ feet is a very small, unmeaning thing. It means peace, for they who submit to Jesus find peace through his precious, blood. It means holiness, for those who learn of Jesus learn no sin, but are instructed in things lovely and of good repute. It means strength, for they that sit with Jesus, and feed upon him, are girded with his, strength; the joy of the Lord is their strength. It means wisdom, for they that learn of the Son of God understand more than the ancients, because they keep his statutes. It means zeal, for the love of Christ fires hearts that live upon it, and they that are much with Jesus become like Jesus, so that the zeal of the Lord’s house eats them up.” (Spurgeon)

One might say that this account from the life of Jesus shows us three types of those who say they follow Jesus Christ.

· There are people like Mary: Those who know how to serve and also sit at Jesus’ feet.

· There are people like Martha: Those who diligently, and with the best intention serve God, but without adding the one thing – a continued focus on Jesus – and it results in great frustration.

· There are people who don’t do either. They are not even in the house with Jesus, for they are too busy with their own pursuits.