Luke 10:40
King James Version (KJV)
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Translations
Luke 10:40 - Amplified Bible
But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!
Luke 10:40 - American Standard Version
But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:40 - Bible in Basic English
But Martha had her hands full of the work of the house, and she came to him and said, Lord, is it nothing to you that my sister has let me do all the work? Say to her that she is to give me some help.
Luke 10:40 - Darby Bible
Now Martha was distracted with much serving, and coming up she said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Speak to her therefore that she may help me.
Luke 10:40 - English Standard Version
But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."
Luke 10:40 - King James Version
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke 10:40 - La Biblia de las Americas
Pero Marta se preocupaba con todos los preparativos; y acercándose a El, le dijo: Señor, ¿no te importa que mi hermana me deje servir sola? Dile, pues, que me ayude.
Luke 10:40 - The Message
Luke 10:40 - New American Standard Bible
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up {to Him} and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."
Luke 10:40 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy
Pero Marta se preocupaba con todos los preparativos. Y acercándose a El, le dijo: "Señor, ¿no Te importa que mi hermana me deje servir sola? Dile, pues, que me ayude."
Luke 10:40 - World English Bible
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, "Lord, don`t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me."
Luke 10:40 - Young's Living Translation
and Martha was distracted about much serving, and having stood by him, she said, `Sir, dost thou not care that my sister left me alone to serve? say then to her, that she may partake along with me.`
Luke 10:40 - Additional Comments
Mary and Martha must have had a lot of respect among the local Jewish community in Bethany, for when Lazarus died, many Jews came to comfort them (John 11:19). This may have been a result of how much Mary and Martha focused on others, and not themselves - Martha with her servanthood, and Mary with her affection. It is amazing how people respond when you focus on them. Also, there is such a huge need for attention, since most people don't get it.
Hospitality makes those in your presence feel welcome. Martha had become so distracted by serving, that in effect she was neglecting her guests. This is something Joy has discovered. For all the work you do in preparing for guests, when they arrive make sure you focus on them, and don't let more preparations or serving distract from that. Martha still had that lesson to learn, and Jesus points it out to her (vss 41-42).
Note that there is a time to do the things Martha was doing, but she continued with them to where it was no longer at the appropriate time. These were good things, but at the wrong time. It is not just the deed we need to examine, but the circumstances around it, to determine whether it's right or wrong.
And Martha so didn't understand this principle, that she even condemned her sister for not doing the same. I expect much of this may have been due to the role women held back then, where the men would meet, and the women quietly serve them. Jesus in effect here was raising the status of women, to be just as much involved with Him as the men were.
Martha is saying here, in effect, that Mary's priorities are wrong. And so, we need to be careful about condemning the priorities others have in their walk with God. They may be right, and they may not be, but we need to be sensitive that God may allow, their walk with Him, others to have different priorities than you have.
What an example of the rut we may fall into, where we get so distracted by life that we neglect our Savior. Life should never get too busy that you do not take time with God every day. If you do, maybe Jesus will try to gently remind you, "
This also may have revealed a general neglect of spiritual things by Martha. She was doing the things in the world without possibly a care for things spiritual. How balanced is your life? Do you take time to focus on spiritual things?
We see a little contention between sisters (siblings). When one sibling has trouble with what the other is doing (or possibly a person with their spouse), there is a tendency to take the issue to someone else to justify why you are angry. First, responding in anger is wrong, so if that is how you are responding, you are already condemned. And second, there are 2 sides, and typically it is not where one is right and the other wrong. Both sides may have valid points, and there needs to be balance. But here, Jesus points out to the one compaining that the other was actually in the right, and the complainer needs to adjust/correct their actions.
Note that sometimes our actions of devotion to God are condemned by others unfairly. Let that never deter you from giving you devotion to God.
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