Martha’s irritation

It seems that Luke, with a certain intent, placed this account immediately after the “Parable of the Good Samaritan.” (Since the house of Martha and Mary was in the village of Bethany, this story would normally appear later, closer to Jerusalem.) Those who read the “Parable of the Good Samaritan” only superficially might misunderstand it as if Jesus were approving salvation by works. This account is perfectly suited to clear up such a misunderstanding. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home with joy. She seemed to have thought of preparing some special hospitality for Him. However, as she busied herself with many tasks, feeling of frustration arose, and she could no longer control them. What especially bothered her was the presence of her sister, who was doing nothing but sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening intently to His word. Martha’s complaint eventually turned toward Jesus Himself: “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.” Her words carried a somewhat sharp and prickly tone. When we forget what should be placed first, we often lose balance in our hearts. There are many things we may think would be good to do, but whether we should actually do them is another matter. Recently, I often feel that discerning what not to do is even more important than deciding what to do. How about you?

Mary’s choice

Jesus gently called, “Martha, Martha,” and answered, “but only one thing is necessary.” From the context, it is clear what that one necessary thing refers to. Mary made it her highest priority to listen to the word of Jesus and to trust in it. That attitude brought joy to Jesus. Recently, I heard someone say this: “On days when I have a proper devotion in the morning, I am able to go through the whole day in peace. But on days when I begin without devotion, nothing seems to go well.” This is a truth I myself have also experienced. The Bible says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Rom. 10:11). Listening to the words of Jesus and trusting in them is truly “the one thing that is necessary.” And there is no one who can take that away from us.