Luke 10:41

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

And {G1161} Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and said {G2036} unto her {G846}, Martha {G3136}, Martha {G3136}, thou art careful {G3309} and {G2532} troubled {G5182} about {G4012} many things {G4183}:

However, the Lord answered her, “Marta, Marta, you are fretting and worrying about so many things!

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things:

Luke 10:41 captures a pivotal moment in the well-known narrative of Mary and Martha, where Jesus gently addresses Martha's bustling activity and underlying anxiety. This verse directly follows Martha's complaint to Jesus about her sister Mary not helping her with the household chores.

Context

The scene unfolds in the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, likely in Bethany. Jesus and His disciples are guests, and Martha, as the hostess, is consumed with preparing a suitable welcome and meal. Her sister, Mary, however, chooses to sit at Jesus' feet, listening to His teaching. Martha's frustration boils over, leading her to directly appeal to Jesus in Luke 10:40, asking if He doesn't care that Mary has left her to serve alone. Jesus' response in verse 41, and the subsequent verse 42, provides a profound lesson on spiritual priorities.

Key Themes

  • Prioritization of Spiritual Over Material: Jesus highlights that while hospitality is good, Martha's focus on "many things" has led her astray from the most important matter—listening to His words. This underscores the importance of choosing what is truly essential.
  • Anxiety and Distraction: The verse vividly describes Martha's state: "careful and troubled." This speaks to the common human tendency to become overwhelmed by responsibilities and worries, which can distract from spiritual nourishment.
  • The "Good Part": Though not explicitly stated in verse 41, this verse sets the stage for Jesus' commendation of Mary's choice in Luke 10:42, emphasizing that true spiritual devotion is the "one thing needful."

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrases "careful and troubled" convey a deeper meaning in the original Greek. The word translated "careful" is merimnao (μεριμνάω), which denotes being anxious, worried, or distracted. It's the same root word used in the Sermon on the Mount concerning not worrying about life's provisions. "Troubled" comes from turbazo (τυρβάζω), meaning to be stirred up, agitated, or disturbed. Jesus' repetition of "Martha, Martha" is not a harsh rebuke but a tender, compassionate address, highlighting His concern for her agitated state rather than her serving heart itself.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless reminder for believers today to evaluate their priorities. In a world full of demands and distractions, it's easy to become "careful and troubled about many things"—work, family, social commitments, personal ambitions. Jesus' words to Martha encourage us to:

  • Seek First the Kingdom: Like Mary, we are called to prioritize our relationship with God and His word above all else. This doesn't negate our responsibilities but reframes them within a spiritual context. As Matthew 6:33 teaches, when we seek God's kingdom first, other things will fall into place.
  • Manage Worry: The passage warns against allowing legitimate concerns to escalate into consuming anxiety that steals our peace and focus.
  • Choose the "Good Part": Regularly set aside time for spiritual nourishment, reflection, and listening to God's voice, ensuring that busyness does not overshadow devotion.

Ultimately, Luke 10:41 is a loving invitation from Jesus to find peace in Him by prioritizing what truly matters for our souls, rather than being overwhelmed by the endless demands of the world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Philippians 4:6

    Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

  • Matthew 6:25

    Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

  • Matthew 6:34

    Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.

  • Mark 4:19

    And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

  • Luke 21:34

    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares.

  • Luke 8:14

    And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

  • Luke 12:22

    ¶ And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
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