Charles Ellicott Commentary John 11:20

"Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house." — John 11:20 (ASV)

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming . . .—This is partly to be explained by their relationship with Him, and partly by the fact of the presence of the Jews at the house. She goes out to meet Him in a place where she can speak her heart’s thoughts, apart from the oppressive ceremonial of the formal lamentation, and where He would not be exposed to a renewal of the attempts against His life.

But Mary sat still in the house.—Better, without the word in italics, but Mary was sitting in the house. The characteristics of the two sisters, which we find in Luke 10:38 (see Note there), are strikingly preserved in this narrative. The clause describes precisely the position of the mourner, who sat on or near the ground, while those who came to lament with her sat around .