SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:20
Entonces Marta, cuando oy que Jess venía, sali a recibirle; mas María se estuvo en la casa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 11:20
Verse 20. Martha-went and met him] Some suppose she was the eldest of the two sisters-she seems to have had the management of the house. See Luke x. 40. Mary sat still in the house.] It is likely that by this circumstance the evangelist intended to convey the idea of her sorrow and distress; because anciently afflicted persons were accustomed to put themselves in this posture, as expressive of their distress; their grief having rendered them as it were immovable. See Ezra ix. 3, 4; Neh. i. 4; Psa. cxxxvii. 1; Isaiah xlvii. 1; Luke i. 79; and Matt. xxvii. 61.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming , etc.] Which she might hear of, either by a messenger sent by Christ to her, to acquaint her of it; or rather by some of the people of the town, who knew him, and ran and told her of it; and she being an active person, and stirring about house, might receive the report unknown to her sister, as it seems she did; and as soon as she had the hint, without staying to communicate it to her sister, went and met him ; either through her great affection to him, and eager desire of seeing him; or to consult his safety, and let him know what number of Jews were in their house, that he might consider whether it would be safe for him to be at their house or not. But Mary sat [still] in the house ; not out of disrespect to Jesus, or through want of affection to him, or through any indifference and sloth, but because she knew not that Jesus was coming; (see John 11:28,29).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 17-32 - Here was a house where the fear of God was, and on which his blessin rested; yet it was made a house of mourning. Grace will keep sorro from the heart, but not from the house. When God, by his grace an providence, is coming towards us in ways of mercy and comfort, we should, like Martha, go forth by faith, hope, and prayer, to meet him When Martha went to meet Jesus, Mary sat still in the house; thi temper formerly had been an advantage to her, when it put her a Christ's feet to hear his word; but in the day of affliction, the sam temper disposed her to melancholy. It is our wisdom to watch agains the temptations, and to make use of the advantages of our natura tempers. When we know not what in particular to ask or expect, let u refer ourselves to God; let him do as seemeth him good. To enlarg Martha's expectations, our Lord declared himself to be the Resurrectio and the Life. In every sense he is the Resurrection; the source, the substance, the first-fruits, the cause of it. The redeemed soul live after death in happiness; and after the resurrection, both body an soul are kept from all evil for ever. When we have read or heard the word of Christ, about the great things of the other world, we shoul put it to ourselves, Do we believe this truth? The crosses and comfort of this present time would not make such a deep impression upon us a they do, if we believed the things of eternity as we ought. When Chris our Master comes, he calls for us. He comes in his word and ordinances and calls us to them, calls us by them, calls us to himself. Those who in a day of peace, set themselves at Christ's feet to be taught by him may with comfort, in a day of trouble, cast themselves at his feet, to find favour with him.
Greek Textus Receptus
η 3588 T-NSF ουν 3767 CONJ μαρθα 3136 N-NSF ως 5613 ADV ηκουσεν 191 5656 V-AAI-3S οτι 3754 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM ιησους 2424 N-NSM ερχεται 2064 5736 V-PNI-3S υπηντησεν 5221 5656 V-AAI-3S αυτω 846 P-DSM μαρια 3137 N-NSF δε 1161 CONJ εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSM οικω 3624 N-DSM εκαθεζετο 2516 5711 V-INI-3S
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. That Jesus was coming (oti o Ihsouv ercetai). Literally, is coming. The exact words of the message: Jesus is coming.Went and met (uphnthsen). The verb means to go to meet.
