Luke 10:38-42 contains a famous narrative involving Jesus, Mary, and Martha. This story is often used to talk about priorities; usually saying something to the effect that we should not be distracted with tasks (like Martha) and miss out on being with Jesus (like Mary). While this is true, there is more to the story. There is a “shock” or surprise in the story that Luke wanted us to see!
Before disclosing what really is going on in the passage, let’s unveil the kind of context that is key here: cultural context.
Let’s acknowledge that everything (literally everything!) is culturally mediated. This means that every truth we adhere to or communicate is filtered through a cultural lens.
The truth at the heart of any biblical passage is able to be transferred and applied to us today, but we have to understand the meaning of any passage through the cultural milieu it is preserved in. For this moment, simply understand that we cannot escape everything being communicated through cultural context, but we can learn to understand the cultural context of the speaker, and understand our own context, and then build a bridge between the two.
Let’s consider a modern example. Let’s say you lived in a third-world country with no connection to anything going on in America. If someone asked you if you ever hoped to see the “Super Bowl” you might be confused. You might even picture a really big bowl! But that is missing the point because the Super Bowl is something that is understood in a social and cultural context. Everything from the idioms we say (like “it’s raining cats and dogs”) to the events we participate in involves a culturally conditioned communication lens.
So, what does all of this have to do with Jesus’s interaction with Mary and Martha?
Let’s look at the passage.
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42, NIV)
Consider the Jewish context of the passage. Why would the underlined part be significant? You see, in the Jewish world of the first century, it was only the men who would be a disciple of a Rabbi.
Now, you might be asking yourself: “Where does he see the word ‘disciple’? It only says she sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said.” Exactly! That could accurately be interpreted as: “Mary was posturing herself as a disciple before the Lord.”
Paul even refers to himself in a similar way when he said he was trained “at the feet of Gamaliel” (Acts 22:3).
Most people would have sat in chairs, but disciples (if their Rabbi was present) would sit at their Rabbi’s feet. It was a posture of humility and even was a way of declaring to those around them that this person is who you are learning from. Luke brilliantly captures Mary’s posture in this part of the narrative. This was what made Mary’s action so shocking to Martha and even the men around her! It was going against the cultural norms of the day. Yet, Jesus seemed to have received her. And that is not surprising. We know Jesus had women disciples and there were even women apostles (e.g. Junia is referred to as an “apostle” in Romans 16:7). Nevertheless, this was an astounding feature of Jesus’s ministry. That is why Luke records Jesus saying: “Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken from her.”
Mary’s desire to be a disciple will not be robbed by the imperfect cultural norms of the day.
Fascinating! And traversing the cultural context aided in our comprehension of the passage.
If these sorts of insights interest you, then we highly recommend you go through Newbreak’s course How to Study the Bible, and there you’ll also receive a resource guide with suggested books and resources that’ll help you uncover more that is beneath the surface of Scripture. We hope to see you there!
I’ve never heard nor contemplated this story from this angle
It is such a beautiful meaning. We are to give up the whole world. He said let the dead take care of the dead. A true disciple gives up everything and follows after Jesus Christ,so beautiful.
It’s quite interesting to get to know the context of Bible stories. This is really helpful. Thanks
Indeed 🙏 it’s very beautiful how scripture can carry so much power and revelation
First time hearing this. Thank you
I first read about this angle in the story, Jesus feminist, and it makes complete sense. We often completely miss the cultural context as western readers!
Is there anything else to uncover in the book of acts 6
And if we are to give up everything we do so in the love of Christ. We are to always look up and keep our eyes on Jesus. If we are to serve we serve in love not on earthly things
Phenomenal insights on the impact of culture on understanding scripture.
I am looking forward to ordering New Brakes bible study course books
I appreciate the desire to contribute something new. However, the contrast made in the scripture isn’t that ‘Mary was seated, and Martha was standing’, but that Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening, while Martha was distracted. Notice that Jesus didn’t say to Martha, “Sit at my feet, be my disciple”, He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things…”
Too often, we want to get something ‘new’ out of the scriptures, that no one else has ever seen. It’s not about cultural context, it’s about devotion.
Two things can be true at the same time.
Mary was seated at Jesus’ feet, a place and posture reserved only for men in the first century. She was covering herself in the dust of her rabbi, an early Jewish statement that reflected the focus of the passage.
So what we are saying is in fact nothing new at all, but rather, quite ancient.
To your argument (which is not an argument or disagreement), Martha was indeed distracted and Mary was focused. Also true and a component of the passage. Two things can be true at the same time, and here we see exactly that.
Thanks for your insight.
If I could also add, instead of distracted, Martha was more focused on serving… as Mary was focused on being a student to receive of Jesus… Sometimes we must be a student of the Teacher to be able to Serve for the Teacher!!!
Enjoyed the insight from all… Blessings
Ameen 🙏🙏🙏
In the history of King Solomon we learn there is a Right Time for Everything under the SUN.
A distracted person is acting “out of God’s timing”!
Servant hood is a godly thing which all of humility can practice! Martha’s hospitality INVITED Jesus in to house in the first place! Both women are the friends of the Lord. Mary choose the better part because she was choosing to let Him into her inner house you could say! Furthermore why get up and bake bread for THE Bread of Life??( When He is good!)
If Jesus isn’t complaining or distracted by Mary focusing on what He had to say, then why should Martha! Sometimes we just need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Jesus wants us to learn from this. It’s not about how much you believe you are doing and how little you believe someone else is doing. It’s seeing what is more important Jesus wants.
We are all called to serve Jesus in many ways. I might feel my brother in Christ serves less than me because my serving keeps me more busy (And I make a point of letting everyone know!)
I feel if Jesus was present, He to would give me a sweet rebuke and say, “Liz, oh Liz you’re more interested in making others aware of how much you’re doing more than your brother. Haven’t you forgotten who you are doing it for my child?”
I hope I’ve conveyed this okay.
Great insights Liz. I agree.
Thanks for this reminder, we are so quick to place blame on others (especially when we are busy) and so we miss the focal point of it all
Really? This passage to me is making Martha to be wrong where it is in my opinion, leaving all the work to her makes Mary wrong. I wonder what everybody would’ve eaten if Martha had sat at Jesus feet, too. I have no doubt that she would have liked to.
Gail. Thanks for writing in. To be fair, I think there are a lot of angles people can see into this passage. We can break this down via exegesis and we can probably each see ourselves in varying characters of the scene. The Bible is replete with these opportunities. The focus of the passage however is to not miss Jesus.
I think another lesson that we can learn from this story is that there are many ways in which we can serve Jesus. Jesus neither critiqued nor chastised either of the sisters but pointed out that Mary had chosen the better way. Perhaps Martha was less able to delve deep into His teaching but wanted to serve up for him the best meal she knew how. Use the best gifts you have to praise and worship Jesus, he will accept all our efforts even though some are better than others, but never think yours are better than anyone else’s.
I totally agree with you, If you look carefully at the text Jesus was not reprimanding Martha nor was he saying what Martha was doing was wrong. I believe there is something else we can learn from this passage. We need to not focus on what others are doing but remain serving and loving Jesus the way that we know how. This was the time that Mary chose to sit at Jesus feet, who’s to say that Martha at other times did not spend time with Jesus, and this was her way of worshipping Him. We all have our unique way of worship, however we need not to allow our busyness to stop others from sitting at his feet. What others do should not distract us from our time of worship because they are not doing what we are doing. All things have their time and place, they both could not be sitting at his feet serving him dinner one had to be doing one thing and the other had to be doing another thing. It’s called the body working together as a collective. Them collaborating together is what made this time with Jesus beautiful, not focusing on whos’ doing what and who’s not doing as long as Jesus was pleased that’s all that matters.
The Holy Spirit gave me the insight Katherine states years ago. I concur. Jesus said nothing to Martha until Martha accuses Mary, for what she perceived as, “unhelpful.” Jesus is not reprimanding Martha, but brings her attention to the fact that spiritual food is needed more so than physical. While both necessary, one has more impotance over the other. 0
Hi Gail, I agree , I feel we have misunderstood this passage , as I heard from prolific spiritual teacher. Jesus does not mean that the tasks in the kitchen are less important; we have to eat to survive! What I feel he was meaning was one needs to bring their sense of being-ness – their Christ consciousness into everything they do. So whilst Martha is left to cook the point Jesus is making is that she too can keep the sense of being whilst she attends to the task at hand. That’s the crux and our ‘work’ in this life – to go about all the necessaries of life whilst being present in Christ consciousness. Always being in a sense of ‘being’ while we do all the human things. We are human BEINGS not human doings … we need to always be mindful of that state of being .
Thank you for this perspective Gina Betts! Aside from the cultural aspect of this beautiful story, your expression of our “being” with Christ vs “doing” for Him resonates the most with me of all the other comments, the former takes precedence over the latter always. God bless you!
Yes! You know how men are when they aren’t fed. Dinner was not going to cook itself! (It’s only now that I’m older and have raised a family that I can feel this way.)
Its a big concern but in my opinion, this was Jesus, God in human form, what if there wuld b no need 2 evn prepare the food, what if He could have provided “manna- like” food out of nowhere? Well He fed 5000 men from 5 loaves
I agree.
I used to wonder that too, Gail. But then I realized Jesus could have broken and multiplied a single piece of bread and turned a pitcher of water into wine and fed everyone if there wasn’t enough for everyone or turned a rock from the yard into bread. 🙂
I was actually wondering that myself. If both Mary and Martha said that Jesus feet who would be preparing the meal? What a great explanation and insight into this Bible story. Thank you for the added perspective.
A very good point. Martha was focused on feeding their bodies, where Jesus was focused on feeding their souls. It’s not about judgement. It’s a story about priorities and timing.
This is all fine and good. But this is one of the scriptures I have struggled with for a long time. If Martha hadn’t done all the work–to prepare and serve all the food to Jesus and everyone else he was there–would he have done it? If Martha, like Mary, and also lay at the feet of Jesus and listened, nobody would’ve gotten fed. Nobody would had anything to drink; explain that. Because no Bible study I’ve ever been to will even touch that subject.
Angelina. I am not sure that’s the focus of the story (provision or miraculous provision). There are other passages where Jesus provides for others, but the focus here is not that. There is a lot we can focus in on here, from serving others to listening to Jesus, and others in between. Viewpoints are over the place. Maybe the easiest thing to see is this: don’t be so busy that you miss Jesus.
Yes I believe that Jesus was trying to teach Martha that He was the most important thing. That what’s the point of serving if you are resentful, complaining and not doing it from the heart.
I know this lesson is about priorities, but yes to Martha! She obviously would have loved to among those sitting and listening but made being a host and a servant also a priority.
Also Jesus would’ve provided food. He always did. Ask God for guidance on this scripture, open your heart.
So, Martha was worried& concerned that Mary wasn’t helping her, but she simply needed to “be still”, and calmly go & prepare food & drink., since that was her priority. Mary’s priority was spiritual food—and she fed on Jesus’ words, and His presence.
Martha could have joined Mary too, and they could have gotten food later.
As I see it, it was about Martha’s hurriedness, and Jesus was basically telling her everything’s okay. Martha’s “first” concern was (physical) food, not spiritual. Jesus understood it all.
Jesus knew that hat Mary’s choice was best; and he said one time, “Seek ye “first” the kingdom of God, and everything else you need will come to you also!
Remember that in the passage above, Martha is the host( opened her home to Jesus). So, naturally she is worried about feeding 15 people( assuming of course that the 12 disciples were with him plus Martha and her sister Mary.) In the story, there are two tasks available: feeding 15 people and feeding oneself with the word of God.Jesus said, there are few things needed or indeed only one…Mary has chosen the much better one, that is listening to the word of God. Jesus further said, it will not be taken away from her because word of God is “eternal food” while the food prepared by Martha is only “temporal food”.Jesus said he is the bread of life. Anyone who eats his flesh and drink his blood will have eternal life..
I am actually preaching/teaching on this subject this Sunday and this is fantastic. The cultural lense is so vital to understand the context of the story. While preparing and looking at the original language this reminder opened new insight. There was no time table to when they were to eat and Martha did the right thing and “welcomed” Jesus in. Jesus didn’t say Martha should stop serving but that she shouldn’t be anxious and troubled. Martha lost her focus on the why she was serving. Both of them approached the Lord like we should. Martha, as well, was a known and loved by Jesus (John 11:5) and was known by the disciples. So much depth to this story so thank again for sharing
Send over that link to your message and we will check it out. So good!
Good points here but the fact that Junia was a apostle is debatable. The textual critic Daniel Wallace claims that the greek is more of favor of ‘was known by the apostles’.
Loved the comments. I too remember the light of personal revelation while reading the familiar Luke 10:38: Martha’s gift of hospitality had created the opportunity for Mary to be blessed to sit at the feet of Jesus.
Picked out a few comments to pass along to a best friend who, like me, probably falls more into the “Martha” bucket. Consequently, for years I often struggled with the Martha/Mary comparison since I’d heard so many messages commending the “Marys” who choose the “better” part. Well, let me be a little transparent here. I am married to a “Mary“—and I mean a tenaciously Mary-hearted man. Early on A LOT of our life responsibilities fell on me. So, I REALLY wrestled with feelings of resentments towards his Mary-bent outlook.
Back in 2017 during one very long season of INTENSE difficulties in our marriage, I visited a friend’s church and heard a message regarding the Martha Mary passage. (I had actually stopped going to the fellowship we attended as a family because the unresolved conflicts were that divisive.) The gentle preacher pointed out that Martha had become offended by Mary‘s behavior. And that that offense had affected MARTHA’s relationship with Jesus. Talk about a message custom-made for me. I could hardly see the man after a while for the tears welling up and spilling out of my eyes. Needless to say, Holy Spirit touched the Word of God and forever “enlarged“ my perspective of these two souls.
Love it when this happens. Glad this could bless you in a moment of need.
Wow!!!
Awesome Personal Experience 👏 👌 🙌👍
May God Almighty Heal Who Gave You This Rhema and Understanding Through The Man Of God, Heal Your Marriage And Mend Every Broken Heart In Jesus Mighty Name Amen and Amen 🙏 🙌
I believe that Martha was actually preparing a place for the Lord’s presence. Her attention to the details of hospitality allowed others to sit at Jesus’ feet. I also find credence in the proposal that Jesus didn’t say anything to Martha until she tried to pull Mary away from where she was supposed to be.
The Lord showed me a correlation between this story and what happens week after week in churches across the land. There are many Marthas who work behind the scenes to prepare a place for God’s presence in our places of worship. Some of them handle the “less spiritual” things, such as helping you find a seat or making sure the bathroom is clean, and some of them spend time praying over and interceding for the service. Both are an important part of creating the atmosphere that invites and sustains His presence in our services.
I am an old woman and have loved this passage for all the insights above and I thank you. But may I humbly submit that Martha demonstrates she too was listening, learning, growing and leading with her own beautiful part! After her brother’s death, it was Martha who ran to meet Jesus with love and faith, while Mary remained inside with the mourners…not coming to Jesus with her sorrow. I love how the Lord subtly turns both women inside out through the necessary fire of suffering and grief so that human strengths and weaknesses are more clearly visible. Oh, but each of their gifts were visibly strengthened after seeing the glory of God! John 12:1-3 again highlights these two very different sisters as they uniquely glorify God growing in service to their Savior! Martha still ministering supper, now without complaint…Mary, now anointing Jesus’ feet!
I love how you worded your comment. Great points of view. Jesus blessed both women. They both received from Him what was needed.
I imagine they all had a lovely Lunch together after all was set in order!
Can you really dig deep and think of the true and very real experience the joy peace and comfort Mary felt even sitting at Jesus’ Feet also him protecting her saying It ( this moment / experience) will Not be taken away from her how pure and perfect . I know I would want to hug Jesus I wonder if he hugs to show affection or just comforts by sending peace
This is interesting topic. This will be my message tomorrow sunday service. M refection of this passage is that sometimes we as christian focus so much on the event, program in the church for example..we become busy we tend to forget that Jesus doesnt come to all ofthis and diffinitely not for the food and party we prepare but rather He came to teach and just to hang out fellowship with us. But bcoz of culture or bcoz we want to please Him in our own understanding. which we tend to miss out the true blessing.
Only the wealthiest at that time and place had chairs. Everyone else sat on mats on the floor.
There are a number of comments suggesting that ‘obviously’ Martha wanted to sit down like Mary but I wonder if we should really believe that. It’s plausible that the idea never occurred to her until she found herself working too hard and jealous of what she perceived was taking the easy path. Perhaps it was far from Martha’s nature to sit, listen, contemplate. Jesus did not say that either woman was right or wrong, important or unimportant, only that Mary’s choice would not be taken away. I think the implication is that Martha also made a choice and i will say if she embraces her choice instead of resenting Mary’s choice she might be returned to the enjoyment of it.
Astute and simple. Sometimes the answers are right there in front of us, and in-depth interpretation is not needed.
Martha’s error may not have been that she served as the hostess instead of sitting with Jesus, but rather that she was distressed by her service, when a simpler preparation would have sufficed (and would have given her opportunity to also spend time at Jesus’ feet). Only one thing was needed…
my ex told me this song reminded him of me so umm i have so many questions
There is a tension or balance here that we have to deal with. Married and with kids do I sneak off to a quiet place to study my Bible and pray while the dirty dishes pile up in the kitchen sink and my spouse wrestles with dirty diapers and screaming kids? That can be a false religion. Blessedly we now have the Holy Spirit and I’ve learned, for example, that washing dishes can be a good place to pray. My hands are warm and it doesn’t take that much attention so my mind and spirit can go elsewhere. How many times have I mowed the grass while singing Ray Bolz’s “Oh my brother Silas,,, no matter what tomorrow brings I will praise the Lord.” After a while my wife figured out, however, that a noisy riding mower was quieter than a house of screaming kids. Time in a garden is where the Lord first walked with man. Pull some weeds. Children demand constant attention and are a source of joy and amazement even while they suck everything out of you. My hat is off to all the caregivers. Now, as a grandpa, it is much easier – best job ever. It still remains a balancing act in the world and culture we live in now. There is the joy of the Lord and thankfulness to sustain us. But how much time and energy do people spend on distractions that are nowhere near as important as children? Finally, in all honesty I think Jesus got off light with Martha. My Mary/Martha would have said, “You may be the Son of God but you will be one hungry Son of God, if I don’t get some help in the Kitchen,” We are not told the rest of the story by Luke. Jesus may have put on an apron, broken another cultural norm , and peeled some potatoes even while feeding Martha spiritually. God is good all the time. 🙂
There’s a lot of truth here. It’s not that either were inherently good or bad, but what was more right at the moment.
I would like to learn how to read the Bible and interpret
What would you do if Jesus came to visit you? Busy preparing dinner for him? Remember, he just fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish (verses 9:12-17). Jesus made it very clear: “There is only one thing to do, and Mary has made the right choice.” Otherwise, you risk rebuking Jesus and blaming your sister at the same time, which would be a lack of priorities and would defeat the very purpose of your activity.
V10:40, Martha approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?
She actually blames Jesus and her sister all at once. Imagine what stress can do to someone?
I have tried to meditate on this scripture, and I just have a question that still bothers me.
Yes, Mary has chosen the better part, but if the food Martha was prepared was eventually ready, won’t Mary had eaten out of it?
If Martha has decided to leave it all and sit at the feet of Jesus, what would they have eaten?
Okay, as I type I’m perceiving that since they were with Jesus, he could have filled their stomach by a miracle.
Lord, Help me.