Scripture Daily

Context No. 2862 of 4322 · Luke

Context · Reflection

Luke 10:37-42: in context

37He said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” 38As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” 41Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Two scenes sit side by side. Jesus finishes the parable of the good Samaritan with a command to active mercy, go and do likewise. Then he enters a village where Martha welcomes him and busies herself with much serving, while her sister Mary sits at his feet and listens. Martha, frustrated, asks Jesus to send Mary to help. He answers gently: Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen the good portion.

It would be easy to misread this as Jesus dismissing service, right after he praised the Samaritan's hands-on mercy. But the problem is not that Martha serves; it is that she has become anxious and troubled, her serving grown fretful and resentful, and it has crowded out the one thing, sitting at his feet to receive from him. Even good work turns into distraction when it pulls me away from the presence of the Lord I am supposedly working for.

Has my serving become anxious and busy in a way that crowds out simply sitting at Jesus' feet to listen?

Sources