Becoming Like Martha: Women Who Take God at His WordНамуна

Worried Martha

Hospitality in the ancient world was a sacred duty. Those who shared table fellowship aligned themselves with one another, establishing peace between the parties. To withhold hospitality or to insufficiently take care of guests was highly dishonorable. In opening her home to Jesus, Martha was participating in a long and sacred tradition, and in serving Jesus she was doing what any good Jewish woman would do.

But then there’s Mary. Within Mary’s culture, her actions are quite surprising. Her expected role was next to Martha, but instead Luke tells us that she is sitting at the feet of Jesus. The phrase “sitting at the feet” is a Jewish idiom for learning from a rabbi. In Acts 22:3, Paul describes himself as “educated at the feet of Gamaliel.” In sitting at Jesus’ feet, Mary is in the place of a disciple, a role typically reserved for men.

Martha’s concern, then, becomes much more understandable and her rebuke of Mary makes good sense within her culture. Her sister is not only shirking hospitality (which is shocking in its own right) but she is positioning herself as this esteemed rabbi’s pupil. In calling Mary out, Martha is attempting to draw Mary back to the safety of cultural norms.

Most likely, Martha anticipated Jesus’ immediate help, for, surely, He must understand the impropriety of Mary’s actions. Instead, Jesus deflects Martha’s rebuke and gives her an utterly unexpected response. He shifts the attention from Mary onto Martha herself, stating her name twice in a tender invitation. There is space at His feet for her too.

Martha is distracted and wrapped up in worry—perhaps over Mary and the unfolding faux pas in her own dining room. Jesus cuts through the anxious chatter in Martha’s mind, focusing her on the one necessary thing—knowing Himself. The focus of this story isn’t Martha’s “failure” but rather Jesus’ radically good invitation to draw near and follow after Him. And the issue is not Martha’s service but rather the state of her heart.

Ponder: What distracts you from Jesus? How can you practically refocus your heart throughout the day?

Pray: Abba, give me a heart that rests at Your feet even as my hands are busy. Focus my mind on Your truths. Replace any worry with the peace of knowing You are near. Amen.