Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 10:40

"But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me." — Luke 10:40 (ASV)

Martha was cumbered.—Literally, was distracted; drawn here and there by conflicting cares.

About much serving.—We may probably infer from this that our Lord had been invited as an honored guest, and that Mary had been asked to meet Him; and, so far, the narrative agrees with what is suggested by the narrative of John 11:0 as to the social position of the household at Bethany. The use of a similar word in Luke 12:42 suggests that this also may have passed from the abstract to the concrete sense, and have been used for a household of many servants as well as for the act of serving.

Came to him.—The Greek word implies something like a hasty movement to interrupt the calm tenor of the Lord’s discourse. The hasty vehement complaint that follows is quite in keeping with this.

That she help me.—More literally, that she join in helping.