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As if Christ had said, "Martha, Martha, I well know that thou doest all this in love to me, and it is no more that what is thy duty in its proper season; but thou has now an opportunity to hear my word, which thou can not have every day, and it would have pleased me better, to whom it is meat and drink to feed souls, if I had seen thee sitting with thy dear sister at my feet, and yielding an attentive regard to my holy doctrine, than to find thee performing a necessary civility to my person. Thou hast not made a bad choice, but Mary has made a better; she has laid all aside to attend upon my ministry, and the fruit of it will continue with her to all eternity": It is that good part which shall never be taken away from her.
Note here, 1. The unexpectedness of our Saviour's answer to Martha, how contrary it was to her expectation: she thought that her sister should have been sent away with a check, and herself with thanks, but she is quite mistaken: for all her good cheer that she had provided for Christ, he spares not to tell her of her fault: Martha, Martha, thou art troubled about many things.
Learn hence, that no obligations to any particular persons should so enthrall us, but that our tongue should be at liberty to reprove the faults of our best friends, wherever we find them. Martha, though a pious and good woman, though a friendly and kind woman, though a woman greatly beloved by Christ, yet is she reproved by Christ.
Note, 2. The reproof given to Martha: Thou art troubled about many things: where Christ condemns not her hospitality, but her solicitude and superfluity, her distraction and perplexity.
Oh how prone are we to exceed in things lawful and necessary, and to go beyond our bounds in them: when we are satisfied in the matter, we are prone to exceed in the measure. Martha's entertainment of Christ was a noble service, but she was too anxious and solicitious about it; she was cumbered, she was careful, she was troubled.
Note, 3. Our Saviour's admonition: But one thing is needful: that is, there is one thing which ought first and principally to be regarded by us, and is of the greatest concernment to us; namely, the business of religion, and the care of our soul's salvation.
Learn hence, that the care of religion, and our soul's salvation, is the one thing necessary, and that which every man is concerned in the first place, and above all other things to regard and mind.
Note, 4. Our Saviour's justification of Mary's choice: Mary hath chosen that good part. Christ did not tell Martha she had chosen a bad part, but her sister had chosen the better. Martha's entertainment of Christ was good, but Mary's attendance upon Christ's ministry was better, and more pleasing unto Christ. Christ was better pleased to see Mary in the chapel, than Martha in the kitchen; though he does not condemn the one, yet he extols the other; Mary had chosen the good part.
Learn hence, that religion and the sevice of God must be the matter of our election and choice; we must choose the good part, and it being once chosen by us, it shall never be taken away from us: One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall never be taken away from her.