Luke 10:38-42
Now as they went on their way ( ην δε τω πορευεσθα αυτους ). Luke's favourite temporal clause again as in verse 35.Received him into her house ( υπεδεξατο αυτον εις την οικιαν ). Aorist middle indicative of υποδεχομα, an old verb to welcome as a guest (in the N.T. only here and Lu 19:6; Ac 17:7; Jas 2:25). Martha is clearly the mistress of the home and is probably the elder sister. There is no evidence that she was the wife of Simon the leper (Joh 12:1f.). It is curious that in an old cemetery at Bethany the names of Martha, Eleazar, and Simon have been found.
Which also sat ( η κα παρακαθεσθεισα ). First aorist passive participle of παρακαθεζομα, an old verb, but only here in the N.T. It means to sit beside ( παρα ) and προς means right in front of the feet of Jesus. It is not clear what the point is in κα here. It may mean that Martha loved to sit here also as well as Mary.
Heard ( ηκουεν ). Imperfect active. She took her seat by the feet of Jesus and went on listening to his talk.
Was cumbered ( περιεσπατο ). Imperfect passive of περισπαω, 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 ( επιστασα ). Second aorist active participle of εφιστημ, 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 ( ου μελε σο ). This was a reproach to Jesus for monopolizing Mary to Martha's hurt.
Did leave me ( με κατελειπεν ). Imperfect active, she kept on leaving me.
Bid her ( ειπον αυτη ). Late form instead of ειπε, second aorist active imperative, common in the papyri. Martha feels that Jesus is the key to Mary's help.
That she help me ( ινα μο συναντιλαβητα ). Sub-final use of ινα with second aorist middle subjunctive of συναντιλαμβανομα, a double compound verb ( συν, with, αντ, at her end of the line, and λαμβανομα, middle voice of λαμβανω, 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 ( αντ ) together with ( συν ) one.
Art anxious ( μεριμναις ). An old verb for worry and anxiety from μεριζω ( μερις, part) to be divided, distracted. Jesus had warned against this in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 6:25, 28, 31, 34. See also Lu 12:11, 22, 26).
And troubled ( κα θορυβαζη ). From θορυβαζομα, a verb found nowhere else so far. Many MSS. here have the usual form τυρβαζη, from τυρβαζω. Apparently from θορυβος, a common enough word for tumult. Martha had both inward anxiety and outward agitation.
But one thing is needful ( ενος δε εστιν χρεια ). This is the reading of A C and may be correct. A few manuscripts have: "There is need of few things." Aleph B L (and Westcott and Hort) have: "There is need of few things or one," which seems like a conflate reading though the readings are all old. See Robertson, Introduction to Textual Criticism of the N.T., p. 190. Jesus seems to say to Martha that only one dish was really necessary for the meal instead of the "many" about which she was so anxious.
The good portion ( την αγαθην μεριδα ). The best dish on the table, fellowship with Jesus. This is the spiritual application of the metaphor of the dishes on the table. Salvation is not "the good portion" for Martha had that also.
From her ( αυτης ). Ablative case after αφαιρηθησετα (future passive indicative). Jesus pointedly takes Mary's side against Martha's fussiness.
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