Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 10:40
But Martha was encumbered 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.
40. cumbered about much serving ] The word for “cumbered” literally means ‘was being dragged in different directions,’ i.e. was distracted (1Co 7:35). She was anxious to give her Lord a most hospitable reception, and was vexed at the contemplative humility which she regarded as slothfulness.
came to him ] Rather, but suddenly coming up (Luk 20:1 ; Act 23:27). We see in this inimitable touch the little petulant outburst of jealousy in the loving, busy matron, as she hurried in with the words, “Why is Mary sitting there doing nothing?”
left me
bid her therefore that she help me ] We almost seem to hear the undertone of ‘It is no use for me to tell her.’ Doubtless, had she been less ‘fretted’ ( ), she would have felt that to leave her. alone and withdraw into the background while this eager hospitality was going on was the kindest and most unselfish thing which Mary could do.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Martha was cumbered about much serving – Was much distracted with the cares of the family, and providing suitably to entertain the Saviour. It should be said here that there is no evidence that Martha had a worldly or covetous disposition. Her anxiety was to provide suitable entertainment for the Lord Jesus. As mistress of the family, this care properly devolved on her; and the only fault which can be charged on her was too earnest a desire to make such entertainment, when she might have sat with Mary at his feet, and, perhaps, too much haste and fretfulness in speaking to Jesus about Mary.
Dost thou not care … – This was an improper reproof of our Lord, as if he encouraged Mary in neglecting her duty. Or perhaps Martha supposed that Mary was sitting there to show him the proper expressions of courtesy and kindness, and that she would not think it proper to leave him without his direction and permission. She therefore hinted to Jesus her busy employments, her need of the aid of her sister, and requested that he would signify his wish that Mary should assist her.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 40. Martha was cumbered] , perplexed, from , about, and , I draw. She was harassed with different cares and employments at the same time; one drawing one way, and another, another: a proper description of a worldly mind. But in Martha’s favour it may be justly said, that all her anxiety was to provide suitable and timely entertainment for our Lord and his disciples; for this is the sense in which the word , serving, should be taken. And we should not, on the merest supposition, attribute earthly-mindedness to a woman whose character stands unimpeachable in the Gospel; and who, by entertaining Christ and his disciples, and providing liberally for them, gave the highest proof that she was influenced by liberality and benevolence, and not by parsimony or covetousness.
Dost thou not care] Dost thou not think it wrong, that my sister thus leaves me to provide and prepare this supper, alone?
Help me.] , from , together, and , to support. The idea is taken from two pillars meeting together at the top, exactly over the centre of the distance between their bases, and thus mutually supporting each other. Order her to unite her skill and strength with mine, that the present business may be done with that speed and in that order which the necessity and importance of the case demand.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Two things are blameable in Martha:
1. That she made too much ado about the entertainment of our Saviour. That she entertained our Saviour she did well; but herein she erred, that she made her entertainment of him so troublesome, as it would not give her leave to take that advantage, which she might, or ought to have done, from the entertainment of a prophet.
2. That she is displeased with her sister because she would not lend her hand, but chose rather to sit at Christs feet and hear his word, and desireth Christ to send her away to her assistance.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
40. cumbered“distracted.”
came to him“presentedherself before Him,” as from another apartment, in which hersister had “left her to serve (or make preparation)alone.”
carest thou not . . . mysister, c.”Lord, here am I with everything to do, andthis sister of mine will not lay a hand to anything thus I misssomething from Thy lips, and Thou from our hands.”
bid her, &c.Shepresumes not to stop Christ’s teaching by calling her sister away,and thus leaving Him without His one auditor, nor did she hopeperhaps to succeed if she had tried.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But Martha was cumbered about much serving,…. “Or was drawn off”, from hearing the word, from attending on Christ; being taken up in providing for him, and those that came with him; in dressing food, or in ordering her servants, how she would have every thing done, and in overlooking them, that every thing was done in proper order; so that she had a great deal of business upon her head and hands, which distracted her thoughts, or took them off of divine things, and put her in great hurry and concern. The Ethiopic version renders it, “Martha laboured in preparing many things for him”; making a large and sumptuous entertainment: and the Persic version, which is rather a comment than a translation, renders it, “Martha was busied in preparing food, and making a feast”: sparing no cost nor pains, thinking nothing too good, nor too grand, for such a guest she had in her house:
and she came to him and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? she came to him; that is, to Jesus, as the Persic version expresses it: she came out of the room where she was getting ready the entertainment, into the room where Christ was preaching; and, as the Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, “she stood and said”: she did not sit down at his feet, as Mary did, to hear his word, but stood as about to go away again, after she had said what she came about: she did not think fit to speak to Mary herself, though perhaps she might do that first; who, showing an unwillingness to go with her, she therefore applies to Christ, as believing that he would, with her, look upon it as a very reasonable thing that she should take her part with her; and that a word from him would go a great way with her sister. And she seems to speak, not only by way of complaint of Mary, who had left her to prepare and serve up this entertainment alone; but even of Christ himself, in some sort, as if he had not showed that care and concern in this matter, which she thought was necessary. However, she was willing to have his sense of her sister’s conduct, and hoped, and even doubted not, but that he would be of the same mind with herself:
bid her therefore that she help me; that she join, assist, and put an helping hand in this service; speak but a word to her, give her orders, and she will observe and obey.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Was cumbered (). Imperfect passive of , an old verb with vivid metaphor, to draw around. One has sometimes seen women whose faces are literally drawn round with anxiety, with a permanent twist, distracted in mind and in looks.
She came up to him (). Second aorist active participle of , an old verb to place upon, but in the N.T. only in the middle voice or the intransitive tenses of the active (perfect and second aorist as here). It is the ingressive aorist here and really means. stepping up to or bursting in or upon Jesus. It is an explosive act as is the speech of Martha.
Dost thou not care ( ). This was a reproach to Jesus for monopolizing Mary to Martha’s hurt.
Did leave me ( ). Imperfect active, she kept on leaving me.
Bid her ( ). Late form instead of , second aorist active imperative, common in the papyri. Martha feels that Jesus is the key to Mary’s help.
That she help me ( ). Sub-final use of with second aorist middle subjunctive of , a double compound verb (, with, , at her end of the line, and , middle voice of , to take hold), a late compound appearing in the LXX, Diodorus and Josephus. Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East, p. 87) finds it in many widely scattered inscriptions “throughout the whole extent of the Hellenistic world of the Mediterranean.” It appears only twice in the N.T. (here and Ro 8:26). It is a beautiful word, to take hold oneself (middle voice) at his end of the task () together with () one.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Was cumbered [] . Only here in New Testament. The Rev. might better have inserted in the text the marginal rendering, was distracted. The verb means, literally, to draw from around [] .
Martha ‘s attention, instead of centering round Jesus, was drawn hither and thither. The peri, around, in composition with the verb, is followed immediately by another peri, “about much serving.”
Came to him [] . Came up to him, as Rev., suddenly stopping in her hurry.
Hath left [] . The aorist, as Rev., did leave, indicating that she had been assisting before she was drawn off by Jesus ‘ presence. Some read kateleipen, the imperfect, was leaving.
Help [] . The verb consists of three elements : lambanw, to take hold; sun, together with; ajnti, reciprocally – doing her part as Martha does hers. It might be paraphrased, therefore, take hold and do her part along with me. It occurs only here and Rom 8:26, of the Spirit helping our infirmities, where all the elements of the verb are strikingly exemplified.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But Martha was cumbered about much serving,” (he de Martha periespato peri pollen keakonian) “Yet, Martha was distracted (frustrated) concerning much serving,” about the details of preparing and serving a meal; She failed to express the calmness in daily matters as directed by our Lord, Mat 6:31-33.
2) “And came to him, and said, Lord,” (epistasa de eipen kurie) “Then coming upon him, she said, Master,” as she confronted Jesus, a guest in her home. The Gk. word “epistasa” indicated that she “suddenly appeared”, with a burst of frustration, and expressed it, visibly and audibly.
3) “Dost thou not care,” (ou melei soi) “Does it not matter to you,” or don’t you care? This is a contrast between the motives of two sisters, as contrasted between the married and unmarried woman, 1Co 7:34-35.
4) “That my sister hath left me to serve alone?” (hot! he adelphe mou monen me kaleleipen diakonein) “That my sister has left me to serve alone?” to serve by myself, without help, which I need, and right now. Alone with too much care she came to chide His lack of care in holding Mary.
5) “Bid her therefore that she help me.” (eipon oun aute hina moi sunantilobetai) “Tell her therefore in order that she may help me,” be alongside or share with me in this work, for she will listen to you, do what you telI her to do.
If a noble man were asked which of the two he would choose for a wife, perhaps his honest reply would be:
“If it were before the meal,
I would choose Martha;
If it were after the meal,
I would choose Mary.”
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(40) Martha was cumbered.Literally, was distracted; drawn hither and thither by conflicting cares.
About much serving.We may probably infer from this that our Lord had been invited as an honoured guest, and that Mary had been asked to meet Him; and, so far, the narrative agrees with what is suggested by the narrative of John 11 as to the social position of the household at Bethany. The use of a like word in Luk. 12:42 suggests that this also may have passed from the abstract to the concrete sense, and have been used for a household of many servants as well as for the act of serving.
Came to him.The Greek word implies something like a hasty movement to interrupt the calm tenor of the Lords discourse. The hasty vehement complaint that follows is quite in keeping with this.
That she help me.More literally, that she join in helping.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
40. Cumbered Her mind was not only occupied, but disturbed and
distracted. Much serving The preparations of the apartments for her guest; furnishings, and feastings, and lodging. This was to honour him, but in a very physical way. To provide amply for her Lord was her duty, and practical proof of her love and faith, (as attested in Joh 11:20-28😉 but there was a way more truly to honour him than by considering him as an epicure who had come for a banquet. Mary better understood that the Son of God sojourned but briefly upon earth, and that he devoted these few hours to their quiet home for higher purposes than the appetites of the table. Lord,
dost thou not care? Now, this is a nervous lady; and hers is a sharp, nay, a two-edged speech. It cuts Mary, and it cuts our Lord. Dost thou not care? This seems to mean that lazy Mary shirks, while Jesus, who ought to prevent, is indulging her.
Hath left me That is, she aided Martha for a while, until, perhaps, a sense of divine propriety said, “Enough; to provide more were an overdoing which he would blame;” and then she left, satisfied that she honoured the Lord more, and that she fulfilled the purpose of his visit better, by listening to the truths of the great Teacher than by providing a luxurious banquet or superabundant furnishings.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.” ’
Martha, however, was finding the burden of so many guests too heavy for her, and very much distracted (too distracted to give time to listening to Jesus even though she wanted to) came to Jesus and pointedly suggested that Mary should come and help her prepare the meal. Indeed she half rebuked Him, even if politely, and she asked ‘the Lord’ to tell Mary to do her duty. No doubt she was suggesting pointedly that after all they would all shortly want their meal.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 10:40. But Martha was cumbered The word properly signifies “to be drawn as it were different ways at the same time,” and admirably expresses the situation of a mind surrounded by so many objectsof care, that it hardly knows which to attend to first. She had probably servants, to whom she might have committed these affairs; and the humility and moderation of our blessed Redeemer would have taken up with what had been less exactly prepared; especially as she had so valuable and signal an opportunity of improving her mind in divine knowledge. Bid her that she help me, is, “That she lend her helping hand,” according to the exact import of , which is also with the utmost propriety used for the assistance which the Spirit of God gives to the infirmities of our frail nature. See Rom. v
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
40 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.
Ver. 40. Martha was cumbered ] Diversely distracted, . In multitude of worldly business, the soul is like a mill, where one cannot hear another, the noise is such as taketh away all intercourse. We should look at the world but only cut at the eye’s end, as it were.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
40. ] . (as also the form above) is a word of later Greek. We have in Dion. Hal. ix. 43, : and in Jos. Antt. ver. 1. 4, . See also Diod. Sic. i. 74: Polyb. xv. 3. 4. It exactly answers to the Latin ‘torqueor’ used in the same connexion by Horace, Sat. ii. 8. 67, and to a midland provincial expression ‘ to be put about ,’ meaning to be ‘distracted with officious care.’ See Phryn. ed. Lobeck, p. 415, who gives for the corresponding classical expression.
., generally, but not always, used by Luke of a sudden coming into presence . It looks here as if our Lord were teaching in another apartment from that where the was going on: this appears also in the .
Luk 10:40 . ., but Martha, as if had gone before where is = Mary on the one hand sat, etc., Martha on the other, etc. , was distracted, over-occupied, as if the visit had been unexpected, and the guests numerous. In use from Xenophon down. In Polybius with added. Holtzmann (H. C.) points out the correspondence between the contrasted picture of the two sisters and the antithesis between the married and unmarried woman in 1Co 7:34-35 . The married woman caring for the world like Martha ( , Luk 10:41 ); the unmarried virgin: . . , coming up to and placing herself beside Jesus and Mary: in no placid mood, looking on her sister as simply an idle woman. A bustled worthy housewife will speak her mind in such a case, even though a Jesus be present and come in for a share of the blame. , bid her take a hand along with me in the work ( cf. Rom 8:26 ).
cumbered = distracted. Greek. perispaomai. Occurs only here.
about = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104.
came = came up.
Lord. Note the avoidance of the name “Jesus” by His disciples and others. See App-98.
dost Thou not care . . . ? = is it no concern to Thee. . . ?
she help me. Greek. sunantilambanomai. Occurs only here and Rom 8:26 in N.T. Supposed to be only a Biblical word, but it is found in the Papyri, and in inscriptions in the sense of taking a mutual interest or share in things.
40.] . (as also the form above) is a word of later Greek. We have in Dion. Hal. ix. 43, : and in Jos. Antt. ver. 1. 4, . See also Diod. Sic. i. 74: Polyb. xv. 3. 4. It exactly answers to the Latin torqueor used in the same connexion by Horace, Sat. ii. 8. 67, and to a midland provincial expression to be put about, meaning to be distracted with officious care. See Phryn. ed. Lobeck, p. 415, who gives for the corresponding classical expression.
., generally, but not always, used by Luke of a sudden coming into presence. It looks here as if our Lord were teaching in another apartment from that where the was going on:-this appears also in the .
Luk 10:40. ) The Greek LXX. have often in Eccl. for .- , hast Thou no care?) What then? Something better is an object of care to Him. Martha herself acknowledged some degree of unhappiness as existing on her part.- , my sister) An argument as it were drawn from an injustice done to her.-) She does not say, suffers me, but, has left me. Hence it may be inferred that Mary had done something in the way of , or external service, perhaps before the arrival of the Master: but presently after betook herself to devoting her whole attention to the Master.-, bid her) Martha did not dare herself to order Mary.
cumbered: Luk 12:29, Joh 6:27
dost: Mat 14:15, Mat 16:22, Mar 3:21
my: Luk 9:55, Jon 4:1-4
Reciprocal: Gen 16:5 – My wrong Psa 39:6 – surely Ecc 10:20 – in thy bedchamber Mat 6:25 – Take Mar 8:32 – Peter 1Co 7:21 – care 1Co 7:34 – she that 1Co 7:35 – and that
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The original for cumbered is defined by Thayer as “distracted.” Martha was so interested in the entertainment of her guest that she let it crowd out her attention to spiritual things. Frequently today professed Christians will actually plan to be absent from the assembly of the saints in order to prepare a meal for expected guests. Such women are in the same class as Martha and deserve the same rebuke as she.
Luk 10:40. But Martha was harassed about ranch serving. This was an honored guest, and Martha did what most women of her character do in such circumstances, bustled to prepare an entertainment, overdoing the matter, no doubt. The application of this incident to spiritual things, made afterwards by our Lord, involves no figure. Bustling people are bustling in religion just as they are in the kitchen or work-shop.
Came to him. Probably from another room, since Luke uses a word which implies sudden appearance.
Lord, dost thou not care. She takes it for granted that as soon as the case is stated, the Lord will send Mary to help her. Busy, restless Christians are constantly thinking that the Lord approves their conduct more than that of the quieter class: they are perfectly conscientious in disturbing those who sit as pupils at the Lords feet
Left me to serve alone. This suggests that Mary had been helping her sister, out felt that she could use the time more profitably.
Observe here, 1. Martha’s behavior: She was cumbered about much serving; that is, much taken up with providing for the entertainment of Christ and his friends; all which considered in itself was no miscarriage, but a token of Martha’s endeared respect to her best Friend.
A person that sincerely loves Christ as Martha did, thinks he can never show enough of respect unto him. Martha having such a guest to honor her house, puts forth herself all she can, yea, more than she was able, to give him entertainment: She was cumbered about much serving.
Observe, 2. Martha’s complaint to Christ concerning her sister’s not joining with her in the work that lay so hard upon her: Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me: as if Martha had said, is it a fit thing that both thyself, and all this company, should be unprovided for? Or is it reasonable that the whole burden should lie upon me, while Mary sits still, and does not touch the least household business with one of her fingers?
Lord, what infirmity and weakness intermixes and mingles with the virtues and graces of the best of thy servants, especially when they give way to their distempered passions!
This good woman at this time did not attend upon Christ’s preaching herself, but interrupts him with a frivolous complaint about her sister: Bid her that she help me.
But why did not Martha speak to her sister herself, and whisper in her ear, and acquaint her how she wanted her help, but makes her moan to Christ?
Answer, it is like she thought her sister was so tied by the ear with those adamantine chains of Christ’s heavenly doctrine, that until Christ was silent she had no power to stir; doubtless she believed that Mary would not move unless Christ spoke to her so to do.
Observe, 3. That all this while Mary speaks not one word for herself: no doubt it troubled her, good woman, to hear her sister complain of her to Christ, and find herself blamed for her piety, and implicitly condemned for laying hold upon such a sweet opportunity of hearing the beloved of her soul whose lips dropped as the honey-comb; however, she speaks not a word in her own vindication, but leaves her answer to her Saviour.
Learn thence, that when we are complained of for well doing, it is our duty, and may it be our prudence, to seal up our lips in silence, and to expect our vindication from above. Mary says nothing, but Christ speaks for her in the next verses.
Verse 40
Cumbered; busy and anxious.
Martha’s duties as a hostess drew her attention away from Jesus whom she evidently wanted to sit near and listen to also (cf. 1Co 7:35). [Note: H. K. Luce, The Gospel according to S. Luke, p. 208.] She expressed concern that Jesus did not discourage Mary from sitting at His feet. She wanted Him to encourage Mary to help her with her hostess duties.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)