“…Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things…Mary has chosen the good portion…” – Luke 10:41-42 (ESV)
The scene unfolds in a small village called Bethany, just two miles from Jerusalem. Jesus, weary from travel and teaching, enters the home of two sisters who have become dear friends of His. The moment He crossed the threshold, two very different responses emerged, responses that have defined the tension in every believer’s heart ever since.
Martha immediately springs into action. There were meals to prepare, guests to accommodate, and hospitality customs to fulfil. In her culture, welcoming a rabbi into your home was a significant honour, and she was determined to do it right. Her hands moved quickly, kneading bread, preparing fish, arranging cushions, filling water jars. Every detail mattered. Every task demanded attention. This was her gift, her expression of love, her way of honouring the Master.
Mary, however, does something remarkable, something that would have raised eyebrows and sparked whispers in that patriarchal society. She positions herself at the feet of Jesus, assuming the posture of a disciple. In Jewish culture, sitting at a rabbi’s feet was not a casual position; it was a declaration of allegiance. It meant, “I am here to learn. I am here to receive. I am your student.” This was a posture typically reserved for men, yet Mary takes it boldly, her eyes fixed on Jesus, her ears hungry for every word.
As the minutes pass, Martha’s frustration builds. She’s sweating over a hot fire while her sister sits doing “nothing.” The ‘injustice’ of it gnaws at her until she can’t contain it any longer. She interrupts not to ask politely, but to demand. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me!” (Luke 10:40 – ESV).
Can you hear the exhaustion in her voice? The resentment? The self-righteousness? Martha wasn’t just physically tired; she was spiritually tired. She had allowed her service for Jesus to replace her relationship with Jesus.
And then comes the gentle rebuke that has echoed through two thousand years of church history: “Martha, Martha…”
The repetition of her name is significant. Throughout Scripture, when God repeats a name, it signals deep affection and urgent importance. “Abraham, Abraham.” “Moses, Moses.” “Samuel, Samuel.” Now, “Martha, Martha.” Jesus isn’t angry; He’s tender. He sees her. He understands her. But He loves her too much to let her continue down a path that leads to burnout and bitterness.
“…you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary…” (V 41-42).
Notice the contrast: many things versus one thing.
Martha’s world had become fragmented, pulled in many directions by demands that all seemed urgent. But Jesus cuts through the noise with surgical precision. One thing is necessary. Just one. And “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (V 42).
The Greek word for “good” here is agathos, meaning not just good, but beneficial, excellent, the right choice. The phrase “will not be taken away” carries a promise of permanence. Unlike the meal Martha was preparing, which would be eaten and forgotten, what Mary was receiving would last forever. This is indeed the better portion.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I come to You today weary and worn. Like Martha, I have allowed the many things to crowd out the one thing. My soul is tired. My spirit is dry. I have been running on fumes, serving in my own strength, and I am exhausted.
Forgive me for the times I have made my work for You more important than my relationship with You. Forgive me for the subtle pride that says I’m too busy, too needed, too important to simply sit at Your feet. Forgive me for treating time with You as optional rather than essential. This is, I pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: Jeremiah 33:3; Hebrews 6:9
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 11; Matthew 13:36-58; Genesis 38; Genesis 39