A Better Way to Go
Luke 10:38-42
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Key Text: Luke 10:42
“ … there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Are you someone who prefers to “do,” or to “be,” especially when it relates to other people? Imagine that you have invited friends over for dinner. Are you more at ease in the kitchen putting final touches on the meal, or in the den carrying on a joyful conversation?
I confess that I’m often more comfortable in the role of the busy beaver than the meaningful conversationalist, and that carries into my spiritual life, too: I can write a Bible study about Jesus more easily than simply being with Jesus in contemplation and prayer.
That’s why, when I read this text, I have a sense that it’s poking its finger at me. Maybe you do, too.
Friends of Jesus (v. 38)
We recall, from our last several lessons, that Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for the last time, having “set his face to go to Jerusalem” in 9:51. Today’s text is set in close proximity to the city, as Jesus stopped for a visit with Mary and Martha.
The gospels portray Martha and Mary as close friends of Jesus, though we’re told nothing of when or how the friendship began. Today’s text is the first time in Luke that the two sisters enter the picture, but they appear to be old friends.
The Fourth Gospel contains two additional stories about Mary and Martha. John 11 relates the story of how their brother Lazarus had grown so ill that they sent word to Jesus asking for help. Jesus delayed his arrival until several days after Lazarus had expired, then resurrected him from the dead. The closeness of their friendship in that text is emphasized by Jesus’ weeping over the family’s pain in the loss of Lazarus (John 11:35).
The two sisters also figure in John’s account of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with oil (John 12:2-8). There Martha busied herself serving the guests dinner, while Mary knelt behind Jesus, pouring expensive perfume on his feet and wiping them with her hair.
While Luke speaks of Mary and Martha’s home as being in “a certain village,” the Fourth Gospel identifies it as Bethany (John 11:1). Bethany was located about two miles east of Jerusalem (John 11:8), not far beyond the Mount of Olives.
Perhaps because of its proximity to the city and to his friends, Jesus appears to have used Bethany as a place to spend the night when visiting Jerusalem (Matt. 21:17; Mark 11:11-12). [DD]
The gospels make it clear that when Jesus visited Mary and Martha, he felt at home. He was among friends.
Contrasting roles (vv. 39-40)
Lazarus does not appear in Luke. The narrative suggests that neither sister was married, though it’s possible at least one was a widow. Martha was probably the older sister and the owner of the house, since she assumed the authority to act as host and to invite Jesus “into her home.”
Ever the efficient homemaker and care-giver, Martha took charge of the dinner. Jesus could hardly have phoned ahead to let her know he was coming, so we can imagine how busy Martha was preparing both the house and a meal. She apparently had little help: her sister Mary latched onto Jesus as soon as he arrived, sitting at his feet and hanging on to his every word (v. 39).
We don’t know whether Jesus, Mary, and Martha were alone in the house during the discourse that follows. [DD] Jesus normally travelled with his disciples, and it’s often assumed that they were present.
The text is unclear, however. Verse 38 begins with “as they went on their way,” but then says “he entered a certain village” where “Martha welcomed him into her home.” The ambiguity serves to focus the picture on Jesus and the two sisters. If the disciples had also been present, it might help explain why “Martha was distracted with her many tasks” (v. 40a).
Mary was focused only on Jesus. The NRSV says she “listened to what he was saying,” perhaps a smoother rendition but losing something from the Greek, which translated literally says she “listened to his words.”
Words are powerful things. With words we can bless others or we can curse them, we can speak truth or we can lie. Words can bring healing or hurt, pleasure or pain. They can show us the right way or point us into the darkness.
Don’t you wish we knew what Jesus was saying that fascinated Mary so? Was he telling stories from the journey, teaching in parables, confounding visitors, or dropping hints about what lay ahead during his last days?
Luke does not say, and it doesn’t matter. Jesus was talking, and Mary was listening.
But Martha.
Many readers can identify with Mary’s hard-working sister, who was frustrated by the lack of help she received and complained to Jesus that Mary had left her to do all the work. “Many tasks” could also be rendered as “much service.” The word is diakonía, the word later used to describe the work of deacons called to serve.
“Tell her then to help me,” she insisted (v. 40b). Martha’s willingness to speak so bluntly to Jesus is further testimony of their comfortable relationship. She was doing what she thought was important, and she assumed Mary should give it the same priority.
Mary and Martha were not the first to see things differently in terms of family roles, women’s roles, or priorities in general. And they were not the last.
Today we hear differing views of what is important, whether in denominational bodies or local churches. Some people believe it’s all about evangelism, while others focus on social justice issues. Like Martha, some are caught up in the work of maintaining the organization, feeding the poor, teaching the children, or building buildings. Others, like Mary, prioritize worship, focusing on Jesus’ presence and words.
All of these are important. How do we decide? How do we even know where our church’s priorities are? [DD]
The better way (vv. 41-42)
Jesus’ response was all about focus. He responded to Martha’s complaint with both understanding and insistence: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her” (vv. 41-42). [DD] [DD]
In other words, Mary had chosen to be with Jesus, and Martha could not take her away. Jesus was not implying that Martha’s activities were unimportant, but there is danger in being so distracted by important things that we fail to recognize what is paramount.
Martha’s problem was not that her work was unimportant, but that she let it distract her from listening to Jesus.
Jesus was on the road to Jerusalem, where he had an appointment with a cross. The time available for him to spend with the sisters was limited. Housework was needful, but it could wait. The one thing that truly counted was the building of their relationship, learning more of God’s way. That required concentration.
There is also danger in doing without listening. Sometimes we have all good intentions but get ahead of ourselves and potentially do more harm than good. Missionaries intent on saving the souls of isolated populations have sometimes brought diseases to which the locals had no immunity, killing the very people they came to save.
At other times, people offering simple aid with no attention to resource building have fostered dependency rather than self-sufficiency. Our doing should always be seasoned with listening.
Have you ever owned or tried to puzzle out a “Magic Eye” picture? They can be found on posters or pages that appear to be covered with random dots or pictures that disguise a hidden image. To see it, you have to learn the trick of letting the eyes go out of focus from the surface picture. You can’t allow your eyes to wander or the mind to be distracted. If you keep looking, and if you are lucky, the secret picture will pop into view. Once you blink or have your attention diverted, the image disappears.
Those who would truly see and understand the heart of Jesus must spend time with him. We must concentrate on understanding Jesus’ teaching. We must think more deeply than the surface as we meditate on the meaning of discipleship. We must spend quality time in prayer and relationship building. In this way, Christ through his Spirit becomes a part of our lives. Then, when we go out on mission to do good things, we take Jesus with us.
All too often, we choose the opposite approach, working around the periphery but giving little attention to the center. Ultimately, trying to do good things in order to please Jesus can be like putting the cart before the horse. Those who think their many works will put them in God’s good graces will find themselves alone, but those who give their hearts to Jesus and learn to live in his love are able to go out on mission without ever leaving Jesus’ feet.
The story of Mary and Martha is not about women as much as it is about believers. It is not about pettiness as much as it is about devotion. Martha’s problem was not the good and necessary things she was doing, but the way in which she allowed good things to distract her from the best thing. In our hectic society, we have need to heed this story. May we learn the lesson well.
Adult Teaching Resources
Download the PDF of teaching resources for this lesson.
This PDF contains the Teaching Guide, Digging Deeper, and Hardest Question pages.
Read Scripture online: Luke 10:38-42
Youth Teaching Resources
Parent Prep
There is a lot of good that our students can choose to do and be, but how can we challenge our students to do and be “the best”. We are not to force our students to do and be the best, and we aren’t supposed to allow our students to do and be what’s wrong. There’s not an easy way because ultimately they have to choose, but we can continue to encourage them to be better and do better. We can place options in their life that are better than they have chosen before. We can assist and encourage them as they choose. Most importantly, we stand with them and encourage them.
Additional Links/Resources
Read Scripture online: Luke 10:38-42
Download the PDF for youth teaching resources using the button below. This PDF contains the Teaching Guide for this lesson:
Video
Encourage youth to check out this video ahead of the lesson.
“Priorities” from Courageous
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