Luke 10:38
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
The certain village is Bethany, the home of Lazarus and his sisters, and the verse records a first visit there after a tiring journey on foot when rest was needed, with the disciples received and cared for alongside Jesus. Having no home of His own He relied on the hospitality of friends, and in welcoming Him Martha's house became a place He loved to visit, where He found rest, sincere friendship and welcome, and faith and love from listeners who treasured His teaching. Martha received Him into her house and became anxious and burdened to provide for the comfort of Him and His guests, while Mary sat at His feet and listened to His teaching. Christians need both the Martha attribute of willingness to minister and readiness to serve and the Mary attribute of sincere love for the truth, humble devotion, and learning at Jesus' feet, blended together with self put out of sight. The better part is learning from Jesus as Mary did, making room for sacred instruction, storing it in the heart, treasuring His words and putting them into daily practice, and it will not be taken away, for even the most zealous workers must first learn from Christ in order to be ready to serve and instruct others.
Village Welcome at Bethany
The chapter around this verse sets a serious work before God's people, requiring the whole being, heart, mind, soul, and strength to be enlisted in His service. That labor is not to be confined to believers, but to become acquainted with unbelievers, to place truth before those living up to all the light they have, and to reach precious souls in the cities. Loving God with all the heart means loving those for whom He gave His only begotten Son, and Christ's death to redeem human beings from sin sets before His people an open door through which to bring others into fellowship with the saints.
The certain village is Bethany, the home of Lazarus and his sisters, and the verse records a first visit there after a tiring journey on foot from Jericho toward Jerusalem. Weary human nature needed rest, and Lazarus's home gave it. The disciples were received as guests alongside Jesus and were cared for by Martha and Mary.
Jesus had no home of His own and relied on the hospitality of friends, and in welcoming Him Martha's house became a place He loved to visit. There He found rest, hospitality, sincere friendship and welcome, and faith and love from listeners who treasured His teaching. Yet no one on earth fully understood His divine mission or the burden He bore for humanity.
He was divinity enshrouded in humanity moving among men with the clear credentials of heaven, suffering in man's behalf with the necessities and woes of the human race pressing upon His divine manhood. Though the Son of God, He was not dependent on human sympathy, yet He accepted human welcome and sympathy and did not check or repulse it. In the family at Bethany He found a quiet resting place away from the suspicion of the Pharisees and the conjectures, prejudices, criticism, and accusations of the priests and rulers. There strife, prejudice, and enmity were not, there He did not meet words that would sting and bruise the soul, and there He had rest and freedom from the strife of tongues. That quiet home also gave Him a receptive audience for teaching He did not share with the mixed multitudes.
Martha received Jesus into her house and prepared to entertain Him and His guests, anxious and burdened to provide for their comfort. While she was occupied with these preparations, Mary sat at His feet and listened to His teaching. Martha, burdened by the work and upset at being left without help, appealed to Jesus. At a later supper in Bethany Martha is again found serving at the table while Mary listens to Jesus.
Service Joined to Learning
Martha is the picture of believers found in every church who are intensely busy in religious activities and active in serving Jesus, doing much good in religious service. Her example shows that watching for opportunities to serve others is a fitting part of Christian life and preparation for the better life, joined to Mary's humble devotion and learning at Jesus' feet. Christians need both together, the Martha attribute of willingness to minister and readiness to serve and to be active in the Lord's work, and the Mary attribute of sincere love for the truth, humble devotion, and learning from Jesus by sitting at His feet. They must be blended together with self and selfishness put out of sight.
Even the most zealous workers must also have Mary's character and first learn from Christ. That learning means sitting and learning at the feet of Jesus, feeding on Christ, studying His Word, drinking in His Spirit, and receiving His grace not to hoard but to give to others, because teachers must first be learners of Christ in order to be ready to serve and instruct others. Those given Martha's own individual work for Christ, distinct from Mary's work, must first learn meekness, not only bear Christ's name but watch unto prayer day by day, walk even as Christ walked and possess His Spirit, purify daily life from whatever causes spiritual weakness and brings dishonor to God, and bring honor to truth by a well-ordered life and godly conversation, so that the power and grace of Christ are revealed through them.
The better part is learning from Jesus as Mary did in sitting at His feet and listening to His teaching. It means making room for sacred instruction, storing it in the heart, treasuring His words, and putting them into daily practice, and it will not be taken away. Choosing the better part means doing as Mary did by studying the word of God and meditating upon it as daily study and learning lessons from the divine Teacher, treasuring His words in the heart and practicing them in the life.
Receiving the truths of the Bible in this way uplifts mind and soul and gives inward rectitude and strength of spirit and principle to resist temptation and sin. It brings a firm, decided will-power and turning from evil, fills the mind with pure, holy thoughts while ridding it of and turning it from all that is impure and untrue, transforms character, and quickens the physical, mental, and spiritual powers to direct life into right channels. Neglect of this sacred instruction leaves youth and even those of mature years easily led into temptation and sin with lack of firm, decided will power. The setting points to choosing lasting good by learning meekness and lowliness of heart, depending on Christ as guide, and dying to self and living hidden with Christ in God, rather than following earth-born ambition or relying on human wisdom or ability.
Christ's words to Martha about the common duties of life tell her not to be anxious or overtroubled about preparation of table fare or about household duties. They show that the little things of daily service and the great thing of eternal life are commingled, that He pays attention to the so-called little things as truly as to the greater, and that He uses the smaller things of life as objects from which important lessons are learned in beautiful simplicity. The verse calls for earnest, prudent, warm-hearted, tender workers who are true to principle and persevering, including women who take their minds from self and personal convenience and center them on Christ, speaking words of truth, praying with persons to whom access can be obtained, and laboring for the conversion of souls. Lukewarm, self-indulgent, self-centered, covetous souls are the chief stumbling blocks to God's work.