Luke 10:40Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do not let the demands of duty divert your attention from understanding the heavenly Word. Do not criticize or regard as idle those who seek after wisdom—invited to enter into fellowship by Solomon, the great peacemaker (1 Chron. 22:9; Prov. 8:2; Prov. 9:10).

However, Martha is not condemned for her valuable service. Yet because Mary opted for the better choice, she receives favor. Jesus possesses an abundance of good gifts that He provides generously; thus, Mary is deemed wiser for selecting the primary focus. The apostles considered it inappropriate to abandon the word of God to serve tables, but both tasks hold the gift of wisdom, as seen in Stephen, chosen to serve tables, who was filled with wisdom (Acts 6:2-5). The minister should respect the teacher, and the teacher should uplift and strengthen the minister, for the Church is one body, though its members vary—each relies on the other. The eye cannot claim it has no need of the hand, nor can the head dismiss the feet (1 Cor. 12:21), nor can the ear refuse its role in the body; while some may lead, others are equally essential. Wisdom resides in the head, while action occurs through the hands; the wise man’s vision is in his head (Eccl. 2:14), for true wisdom belongs to the one whose spirit is in Christ, with an inward gaze directed towards higher realms. Therefore, the wise man’s vision is in his head, while the fool’s is directed at the ground.

However, He did not dismiss the value of ministry work. Had He regarded it as trivial, He would not have adopted Martha’s service Himself by washing the disciples’ feet. He instructed them, saying, "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13:14-15). He also taught, "Whoever desires to be great among you must be your servant. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:43-45). Furthermore, He stated, "Inasmuch as you did it to one of these ... you did it to Me" (Matt. 25:40). The apostles, as recorded in the Acts, prioritized prayer and the ministry of the word over physical service, stating, "It is not right for us to give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:2-4). Here, the former is shown to be preferred to the latter, even though both stem from the same good root. Therefore, let prayer be your passion, esteemed above other commandments, and prioritized accordingly. Ensure that all is performed out of love for God and with the intention of achieving, by God's grace, a state free from passions.

Regarding what Martha expressed to the Lord concerning Mary—“I have many labors, and she sits at your feet”—the answer lies in what the Lord had already shared with Martha: Mary had forsaken everything to sit at His feet, devoting her entire day to glorifying God. This act of sitting at the Lord's feet exemplifies profound love. To further clarify the significance of God's word, consider this: Anyone who loves Jesus, obeys Him as they should, and continues in love will receive a reward from God for their devotion, though the exact nature and extent of this gift may remain unknown to them. Even Mary, who sat at His feet in love, received not just a reward but also a hidden power infused from His essence. The very words spoken by God to Mary were filled with spirit and power. As these words penetrated her heart, they became life within her spirit, and divine power filled her being; when this power is present, it becomes an abiding and inalienable part of her. Therefore, knowing what He had imparted to her, the Lord affirmed, “Mary has chosen the good part” (v. 42). In time, Martha’s eager service also led her to the same divine gift, as she too received that holy power within her soul.

When Martha, preoccupied with her devout duties, realized she could not manage the workload alone, she turned to the Lord, asking, “Lord, is it not necessary for You that my sister leave me alone to serve? Tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40). Although Martha's request was for a commendable task, what was her response from the Lord? “Martha! Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, but only a few things are needed, or indeed only one; Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). Here, the Lord highlights that the supreme good lies in divine contemplation. Thus, while we acknowledge other virtues as valuable and important, we assert that they are of lesser rank in terms of dignity because they ultimately serve the purpose of contemplation. The Lord’s statement, “You are worried and troubled about many things, but you need only a few, or even just one,” emphasizes that the highest good is found not in active, commendable labor filled with various outcomes but in the singular focus on God, which is both simple and profound. This indicates that only a few things, specifically contemplation, are essential for complete happiness. Through the initial contemplation of a few sacred truths, one can progress toward what is ultimately one—beholding God alone with His assistance. In doing so, even after excelling in the commendable deeds and services of the saints, one may still revel in the divine knowledge and radiance of God alone. Consequently, Mary chose the good part that would remain hers forever. This observation warrants deeper contemplation. When the Lord stated that Mary had chosen the good part, He did not reprimand Martha directly. However, in commending Mary, He indirectly placed Martha in a lesser position. The phrase “which shall not be taken from her” suggests that Martha’s reward could be taken away. The ministry of the body is transient, but the ministry of Mary will endure forever. Therefore, our primary focus should align with the contemplation of divine matters, as illustrated by the example of Mary and Martha.

He who does not receive the bodily deed cannot have the mental deed; the latter is born from the former, as an ear is born from a sown naked grain of wheat." The physical actions required entail fulfilling the commandments of the Gospel through tangible means. This encompasses providing material assistance, welcoming strangers, and engaging with the various needs and suffering of the less fortunate. It also includes purity of body, refraining from anger, avoiding excess, amusement, mockery, slander, and all speech that betrays malice or a corrupt heart. Additionally, it consists of practices like fasting, prayer vigils, psalm singing, kneeling, and standing in prayer both in the church and in solitude. This encompasses monastic obedience and various external endeavors. Engaging in physical exploits demands ongoing effort: a person moves from one good deed to another, often performing multiple acts of kindness simultaneously. Such physical dedication gradually cleanses the soul of its passions and aligns it with the spirit of the Gospel. As the Gospel commandments are put into practice, they progressively imbue the practitioner with profound thoughts and feelings, bestowing upon them Truth, Spirit, and Life. However, physical endeavors have their limits and culminate in a definitive transition to spiritual feats. This critical shift is achieved through a gradual process. Martha's service concluded when the Lord’s dinner was complete.

Comparing these accounts suggests that Simon, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary were indeed related, with Martha serving as the hostess during the meals Christ had at their home in Bethany. The exact connection between Simon and Martha remains unclear; some traditions suggest that Simon was Lazarus's father. It is also uncertain whether Lazarus and Mary were part of Simon and Martha's family or if Lazarus had a separate residence in Bethany. Both sisters hold firm faith in Jesus as the awaited Messiah, showcasing their love and reverence for Him in their distinct ways: Martha seeks to honor the Lord through her efforts in meal preparation, while Mary dedicates herself to listening to His teachings. Martha, noticing that the work would not be completed timely if she worked alone, wished for her sister's assistance. Yet she recognized that Mary would not leave the Lord's side without His consent. Therefore, Martha chose to voice her gentle reproach not to Mary but to Jesus. In a tone filled with warmth and a hint of sorrow, the Lord responds, saying: ‘Martha! Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things (as a way of showing love and respect for me). But only one thing is necessary (for this): it is the good portion that Mary has chosen.’

Therefore, out of frustration, Martha, rather than kindly requesting her sister’s assistance—knowing that Mary, based on her character, would likely respond readily—approached Jesus with an air of exasperation and irreverence, questioning if it was appropriate for Him to allow her sister to remain passive while she toiled alone. She implied that He should instruct Mary to assist her in their household tasks, though she was evidently too earnest to utter the typical complaint of disgruntled individuals—that it was futile to express her needs.