Luke 10:38-42 - The Problem with Mary and Martha - July 17, 2022

At first glance, this seems like a somewhat cute, innocent, almost funny story. Who of us who has ever lived with someone else doesn’t know the frustration of busting your butt doing chores while someone else is just sitting there? But the Holy Spirit wouldn’t have inspired Luke to waste the ink (2 Timothy 3:16) to record this account if all it was only a quaint, cute story of everyday family life. This story teaches some very serious truths. This story of Mary and Martha is well-known. But that doesn’t mean that it’s well-understood. That’s because there’s a problem with Mary and Martha.

What’s the problem? The first problem is that we fail to grasp the magnitude of Martha’s sin. I mean, really, what’s the big deal? If Martha was busy trying to burn down the Roman Governor’s residence in protest of some decision she viewed as unjust; if she was busy disposing of the knife she had used to murder someone; if she was busy in the bedroom with someone else’s husband; if she was busy hiding a bounty she had stolen from her neighbor – that would get our attention; then we would see her sin as serious. But what is Martha busy doing? Well, working…and worrying. What most people would consider at least innocent if not praiseworthy. But if we view Martha’s work and worry that way – then we have a problem. Because Martha’s work and worry are symptomatic of major sins against the first three commandments.

Martha is guilty of breaking the first commandment – she is guilty of idolatry. How? Well, Luke tells us that Martha welcomed [Jesus] into her home and that she recognized him as her Lord, that is, as God. The gospels don’t explicitly report that Jesus (the Son of God) visited an individual’s home all that often. He visited Peter’s house (Matthew 8:14), Simon the Pharisee’s (Luke 7:36-50), Matthew’s (Matthew 9:9-13), Zacchaeus’ (Luke 19:1-10), and, notably, he visits Mary and Martha’s home three times (John 11; John 12:1-11). Each time, the host was very careful to take the time to listen to Jesus. The only exception is here. Even though Martha welcomed [Jesus] into her home…[she] was distracted with all her serving. Martha had a different god. What should we call this god? Maybe the god of “hospitality”? And if you’ve ever run into this false god, you know that he is very demanding. Bathrooms need cleaning; carpets need vacuuming; food needs cooking; beverages need cooling – on and on and on.

Now, you may think that it’s silly to call hospitality an idol, but God’s Word says that whatever is most important in your life at any given moment is your god (Matthew 6:24; Jeremiah 17:5; 1 John 2:15). What’s the most important thing in your life right now? I’m not suggesting that you might be worshipping Allah or Buddha in place of the one, true, triune God – I don’t think you’d be here if that were the case. Nor am I suggesting that some evil, wicked thing might be the most important thing (although, it certainly could be). No, I’m asking you to examine your heart to see if some good thing has taken the place of the one, most important thing in your life. It could be your spouse, your children, your job, your health, your wealth, your schedule, recreation, the economy, your security, politics, that problem at work or at home. Whatever is at the top of that list is your god. That’s what you worship with your fear, love and trust, not to mention your time, effort and finances. Again, in and of themselves, those are all good things – but they make for terrible gods. Her Lord and Savior had come into her home, but for Martha, he came in second place behind the god of hospitality. (Incidentally, this wasn’t a formal church service. This was more like Bible class. But Martha didn’t attend. She had other things to do that were more important. When you walk out of here, is there something more important than sitting at Jesus’ feet for another 20 minutes?)

Martha was an idolater, but she was also a blasphemer. Our Catechism defines blasphemy as “to speak of God in an evil or disrespectful way.” [1] Did Martha do that? Let’s go back to the scenario again. As Mary sits there passively listening to God’s Word, Martha is busy. She’s zooming in, out and around the place where Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. Now, every household has a something I’ll call a chore code. Do you know the chore code? It consists of a passive-aggressive manner of doing the chores when you’re trying to get someone else to help you It doesn’t matter what the chore is, sweeping, dish-washing, vacuuming – everything gets louder and more obnoxious as they try to grab your attention. Apparently Jesus wasn’t aware of the chore code, so he goes on teaching – and Mary goes on sitting and listening. Finally, Martha gets so fed up that she came over and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” Tell her to help me. How is this blasphemy? According to the 2nd Commandment, the Lord has given us his name to pray, praise and give thanks (Psalm 50:15). Martha has misused the name of the Lord by using it to try to manipulate him, to tell him what to do. That’s a serious sin. We can ask God for anything – but we must never, ever think that we can tell God what to do or when to do it.

Why don’t we take Martha’s sin more seriously? Why would we find this story more interesting if Martha was guilty of insurrection or murder or adultery or theft? It’s because our nature is to assess sins against the second table of the law (4-10) more seriously than sins against the first (1-3). Those are visible, tangible sins. They’re sins that other people might see or find out about. They’re sins that even our fallen world recognizes as wrong. But just because the world sees those sins as the worst doesn’t mean they are. The worst sins are those against the first 3 commandments – that’s why they’re first. Martha’s idolatry and her blasphemy ultimately led her to break the 3rd commandment – which could, arguably, be considered as her greatest sin. Why? Because when you don’t listen to or despise God’s Word you’re sinning against the only cure for sin (Matthew 12:30-32). Apart from the Word how could Martha be rescued from her idolatry and blasphemy? If you or I despise God’s Word, how can we be saved from our sins against all 10 Commandments?

Underestimating the magnitude of Martha’s sin is the first problem with Mary and Martha. But it’s not the only one. The contrast that runs throughout this account is between one and many; between one Lord and many distracting idols; between being upset about many things and content to receive the one thing needed. Far from being merely quaint, cute or irrelevant, doesn’t this story speak directly to our lives in 21st century America? We’re all always in a rush, always busy, always behind and always tired. The harder we work, the less seems to get done. There really are too many things to do and too little time to do them. The devices and apps that were supposed to make life easier only create further distractions and obligations.

Contrast the frantic chaos of our everyday lives to Mary. Mary clearly understood the good, gospel-oriented goal of the 3rd commandment. She heard the divine command to “Stop and listen!” when Jesus came through the door. She put everything down. For her, nothing was more important than Jesus. Compared to Jesus all the things demanding our worry and anxiety and sleeplessness and endless busyness are not needed. Life today calls you to be worried about so many things. By sitting at Jesus’ feet, Mary was confessing the reality that worrying, working, planning and speeding can’t make your life one minute longer, sweeter or richer (Luke 12:22-34). Isn’t that magnificent? We are free to ignore the threats and commands of the idols of busyness and worry. “If you don’t do this, you’re in trouble.” “You better get this done, or else.” When those threats and commands come, remember the magnificent Gospel promise: your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things…seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:32-33). Or, as Jesus put it: one thing is needed.

Jesus’ Gospel message stands in stark contrast to what is proclaimed in most churches today. While the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone may be implied and even referred to – too often the main focus is on us and what we are to do and give or how we are to behave. Have you ever heard a sermon that went like this: Law – you’re a sinner; Gospel – you’re forgiven; and now, get out there and do a. b. and c. Now that kind of sermon is not necessarily wrong – but when that’s what you’re hearing every week, what part gets the emphasis; what part sticks in your mind? When a church’s main message is that you must be doing more to help the poor, giving or volunteering more, that you should be doing more to fight racism or sexism or any other “ism” out there – then the magnificence of the Gospel of Christ crucified gets dulled and obscured. Whether it’s intentional or not, the message given is that you can trust in Jesus for your eternity, but until then, it’s up to you. You can rest in Jesus on the day you die, but not today. Here’s the thing: I know I’ll have plenty of time to rest from work and worry when I’m dead, but I really need some rest here and now, don’t you?

To give rest is why Jesus was at Mary and Martha’s house. And it’s why he promises to be here with us in this house as we gather in his name (Matthew 18:20). It’s why he gave us the third commandment, to remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy (Exodus 20:8-11). It’s all designed to keep our attention on the one thing…needed. Jesus is that one thing. And he’s come. The one who never had another god, never misused the name of God, never despised the Word of God and, therefore, never worried once; paid the price for Martha’s sins and for yours and mine too. Jesus was holy, but he was punished for Martha’s idolatry, your blasphemous prayers where you tried to tell God what to do, and my despising of the Word. Those sins against the first three commandments are serious. They deserve punishment in hell that never ends. And that’s exactly what Jesus suffered in our place on the cross. He suffered for each and every one of our sins against the first three commandments until he could say it is finished (John 19:30). And, unlike us, who will all die with much unfinished business – when Jesus finishes something, it’s really finished.

One thing is needed, Jesus says, and he’s present to give it to you here and now. Jesus has come and he continues to come to give peace and rest to frantic, weary, worried sinners like us through Word and Sacrament. His Baptism doesn’t quickly drain to empty like your gas tank does – the well of grace you have in Baptism will never run dry. His Absolution isn’t like those bills you paid last month – only to have them show up again this month – the debt of your sin has been paid once and for all (John 19:30). Supply-chain issues will never remove Jesus’ body and blood and the forgiveness and strength they provide from this altar and inflation will not make them too expensive to buy (Isaiah 55:1). These are the free gifts Jesus dispenses to you every time you listen to his loving 3rd Commandment which essentially says “Stop! Listen! And find your peace and rest not in your work but in mine!”

Only when we take the time to stop, listen and rest can we realize the magnificence of the good news in this account of Mary and Martha – good news for all sinful, idolatrous worriers. Jesus says that Mary has chosen that better part, which will not be taken away from her. Do you realize what that means? It means that all the distractions, all the “things” of this life, all the worry and anxiety will eventually be taken away. That’s the peace of heaven that every Sunday service, every family devotion and every personal meditation points us to. And when we take the time regularly, weekly and daily, to turn away from the many distractions and worries of this life to focus on the one thing needed – Jesus, his life, death and resurrection – then the problem with Mary and Martha (and us) disappears – and we can finally rest. Amen.  

[1] 2019 WELS Catechism, 375