Luke 10 40

Luke 10:40 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.

Luke 10:40 nkjv

But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

Luke 10:40 niv

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

Luke 10:40 esv

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 nlt

But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."

Luke 10 40 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Mt 6:25"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life...Do not worry about life.
Phil 4:6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer...Casting anxiety on God.
1 Pet 5:7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.Entrusting cares to the Lord.
Psa 27:4One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell...Desiring to be in God's presence.
Deut 30:19choose life, so that you and your children may live, that you may love...Choose life and listen to God.
Lk 11:28Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.Blessing comes from hearing and obeying.
Acts 17:11Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thess...Diligent study of the Word.
Jas 1:22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it...Be doers, not just hearers.
John 6:27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal...Labor for spiritual food.
John 13:14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should...Example of humble service.
Rom 12:7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;Serving as a spiritual gift.
1 Cor 12:5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.Variety of ministries.
Eph 6:6-7not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of...Serve wholeheartedly for the Lord.
Phil 2:14Do everything without grumbling or arguing,Avoiding complaining and disputing.
Num 14:27"How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard...God hears complaints.
Prov 10:19When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restr...Danger in much talk.
Mt 7:21Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of...Doing God's will vs. empty profession.
Heb 12:2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.Focus on Christ.
1 Jn 2:15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the...Distraction by worldly things.
Lk 12:29And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry...Do not worry about material needs.
Mt 4:4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone...Man needs spiritual sustenance.
Mk 4:19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the...Word choked by anxieties.

Luke 10 verses

Luke 10 40 Meaning

Luke 10:40 depicts Martha's struggle with being overwhelmed by extensive hospitality preparations for Jesus and His disciples. This busyness leads to distraction, inner turmoil, and a loss of peace, causing her to confront Jesus with a reproachful question about her sister Mary, who chose to sit and listen to Jesus' teaching. Martha feels abandoned and overworked, demanding that Jesus intervene and command Mary to assist her. The verse sets the stage for Jesus' crucial teaching on prioritizing spiritual listening over excessive earthly service.

Luke 10 40 Context

Luke 10:40 is part of a short but profoundly significant passage (Luke 10:38-42) uniquely found in Luke's Gospel. It immediately follows the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), which defines who a "neighbor" is and what it means to "love your neighbor as yourself." The narrative then shifts to Jesus' visit to the home of Mary and Martha in Bethany, presenting a contrast in how the sisters engage with Jesus. Martha embodies diligent service and hospitality, while Mary embodies attentive discipleship at Jesus' feet. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' crucial statement in verse 42, which prioritizes the "one thing" Mary has chosen, establishing spiritual listening and communion as more vital than even legitimate household duties and service.

Luke 10 40 Word analysis

  • But (ἡ δὲ - hē de): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a contrast with Mary's actions mentioned in the preceding verse (v. 39). It sets up a tension between Mary's focused listening and Martha's frenzied activity.
  • Martha (Μάρθα - Martha): From Aramaic, meaning "mistress" or "lady." She is characterized by her role as the homeowner and host, and her personality is often seen as practical, responsible, and action-oriented.
  • was distracted (περιεσπᾶτο - periespato): Imperfect passive form of perispao (from peri, "around," and spao, "to draw or pull"). It literally means "was being drawn around" or "was being pulled in different directions." This vividly conveys a state of being over-occupied, absorbed, anxious, and pulled away from one's true focus. It suggests an internal state of turmoil and preoccupation rather than merely being busy. Her extensive serving caused this distraction, preventing her from engaging with Jesus as Mary did.
  • by all the preparations that had to be made / with much serving (περὶ πολλὴν διακονίαν - peri pollēn diakonian): Pollēn means "much" or "many," and diakonian refers to "service," often specifically household or table service. While diakonia is a positive term (source of "deacon"), here the amount of it became a problem. Her many tasks for hospitality, though noble, consumed her attention and created her distraction. The focus isn't on service being bad, but on much service becoming an overwhelming burden that led to internal unrest and a shift in priorities.
  • And she came to him / And having stood near (ἐπιστᾶσα - epistasa): A participle meaning "having stood upon," "stood over," or "approached suddenly/confrontationally." This indicates a direct, perhaps forceful or abrupt, approach to Jesus, implying impatience or a confrontational attitude, rather than a gentle inquiry. She wasn't simply asking; she was demanding attention.
  • and said (εἶπεν - eiepen): Standard verb for speaking.
  • Lord (Κύριε - Kyrie): A term of respect and address for Jesus, acknowledging His authority. However, in this context, it's immediately followed by a challenge, suggesting that while she recognizes His position, she presumes to direct Him.
  • do you not care (οὐ μέλει σοι - ou melei soi): This is a strong, accusatory rhetorical question. It literally means "Is it not a care to you?" or "Does it not concern you?" Martha is questioning Jesus' compassion, awareness, and perhaps even His fairness. She perceives neglect or indifference from Him regarding her perceived burden. This reveals her personal anguish and frustration.
  • that my sister has left me alone to do the work / that my sister left me alone to serve (κατέλιπέν με μόνην διακονεῖν - katelipen me monēn diakonein):
    • Katelipen means "left behind," "abandoned."
    • Monēn means "alone."
    • Diakonein again referring to "to serve" or "to perform household duties."This phrase expresses Martha's feeling of abandonment and resentment. She feels singled out for the burden while Mary escapes responsibility. It highlights her sense of injustice and self-pity.
  • Tell her (εἶπον οὖν αὐτῇ - eipon oun autē): A direct command to Jesus. She is not asking for help or wisdom; she is dictating what she believes Jesus should do, commanding Him to intervene in the way she deems appropriate. This suggests she thinks she knows best how the situation should be managed.
  • that she may help me (ἵνα μοι συναντιλάβηται - hina moi synantilabētai): Synantilabētai means "to take hold with" or "to help together." Martha desires practical assistance. Her focus is on changing Mary's external behavior to alleviate her own burden, rather than examining her own internal state or priorities.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made": This phrase immediately establishes Martha's internal state. Her intense focus on many "good" tasks (hospitality) leads to spiritual and emotional distress. It reveals a common human tendency to allow busyness to overwhelm spiritual priorities, becoming anxious and losing peace in the midst of duty.
  • "She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care...'": This shows a shift from internal distress to external confrontation. Her questioning of Jesus' care reveals a common reaction when we are stressed: projecting our inner turmoil onto others, even God. It's a challenging and perhaps presumptuous question, implying that Jesus is either unaware or indifferent to her plight. This highlights a momentary lapse in trust and understanding of Jesus' true priorities.
  • "...that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!": This demonstrates Martha's feeling of unfair burden, resentment towards Mary, and a desire to control the situation by enlisting Jesus as her advocate. It signifies a focus on external fairness and workload distribution rather than the intrinsic value of Mary's choice to be with Jesus. Martha's instruction to Jesus underscores a human tendency to tell God how to solve our problems.

Luke 10 40 Bonus section

  • The term diakonia normally denotes humble service, a highly esteemed Christian virtue. Yet, Martha's much diakonia became a stumbling block because it was not coupled with the primary spiritual focus, demonstrating that even good works, when disproportionately emphasized, can lead to spiritual anxiety and self-righteousness.
  • Martha's interaction with Jesus serves as a vital lesson that true spiritual blessing comes from focusing on the person of Christ and His Word, rather than becoming entangled in the demands and pressures of outward service or perfectionism.
  • Her concern was external: how the guests would be served, and Mary's lack of contribution. Jesus' concern was internal: Martha's anxious and troubled spirit, and her misplaced priorities.
  • The narrative does not diminish the value of service but underscores that service must flow from a place of peace and attentiveness to God, not from a place of anxiety or resentment. Service for Jesus should not prevent communion with Jesus.

Luke 10 40 Commentary

Luke 10:40 presents Martha's state of being "distracted" by her "much serving," offering a timeless insight into the human struggle with priorities. Martha, burdened by her duties of hospitality, though commendable in themselves, allows her practical efforts to overshadow her spiritual need. Her diakonia (service) became a source of internal unrest (periespato), leading to anxiety and ultimately an accusatory complaint towards Jesus. Her question, "Lord, don't you care?" reveals a profound misunderstanding of both Jesus' concern and the true meaning of "care." It also displays a subtle attempt to manipulate Jesus into validating her frustration and imposing her will upon Mary. The irony lies in her earnest service hindering her communion with the very Lord she sought to serve. This verse serves as a crucial setup for Jesus' gentle rebuke in the following verses, emphasizing that true devotion is not found in ceaseless activity or perfect presentation, but in spiritual receptivity and prioritizing the "one thing necessary"—intimate communion with and listening to Christ. Her actions exemplify the danger of allowing good works to become a barrier to what is eternally best.