Bible Women: Martha of Bethany, Cumbered with Much Serving

Martha of Bethany

Luke 10:38-42, John 11:5-28

Martha and Mary, sisters in the Word of God, both have a very important part in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ as he was on this earth as the Son of man, in perfect sinless humanity and deity.  Previously we have studied Mary, so this study will focus on Martha.

Martha is named in the bible before her sister, she is referred to in Luke 10:38 as "a certain woman named Martha" who "received him into her house" one day when Jesus was visiting the town of Bethany.  We learn much from this verse, Martha is a woman who offers the Lord Jesus hospitality,  the house is called "her house"..it is not Lazarus or Mary who first greets the Lord Jesus, but Martha. Perhaps she is the oldest.  It is certain that Martha was well acquainted with the Lord Jesus, because the next verse tells us about her sister Mary who "sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word." Unlike so many who rejected the Lord Jesus, Martha receives him and desires to serve him, as we learn in the next verses.  Luke 10:40-42 "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.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Martha, it seems, took her role of hospitality very seriously.  There must have been quite a few people in the house, probably some disciples of Jesus were there as well.  V40 tells us that Martha was cumbered about much serving,  she was very concerned because this task seemed too much for Martha to handle by herself in a timely manner, and so she asks the Lord Jesus to bid Mary help her.  The Lord Jesus gently rebukes her by repeating Martha, Martha.   Several times in the bible a person is called by their name twice.