Exposition of Luke 10:38 Mary and Martha
Luke 10:38-42: The Story of Mary and Martha
As Jesus traveled, he entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home [1]. The passage describes Martha's hospitality and her interaction with her sister Mary, who sat at Jesus' feet listening to him. The story has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history.
The literary context of this passage is Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, during which he teaches his disciples and interacts with various people they meet along the way. The surrounding narrative in Luke 10 includes Jesus' instructions to his disciples on their mission (Luke 10:1-24) and his parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The story of Mary and Martha is often seen as illustrating the proper response to Jesus' teaching [4].
The historical setting of this passage is likely Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, as identified by John 11:1. The house where Martha lives appears to belong to her, and she is described as the older sister [5].
The key terms in this passage include "welcomed him into her home" (Luke 10:38), which highlights Martha's hospitality, and "sat at the Lord's feet listening to his word" (Luke 10:39), which describes Mary's actions. The phrase "distracted by all the preparations" (Luke 10:40) is also significant, as it shows Martha's concern with serving Jesus.
One major exegetical decision in this passage is the interpretation of Jesus' statement, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. But one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42). The meaning of "one thing is needed" has been debated among commentators. Some interpret it as referring to spiritual nourishment, while others see it as emphasizing the importance of prioritizing one's relationship with God [7, 6].
The range of interpretations of this passage is broad. Some, like Augustine, see Mary as representing the contemplative life, while Martha represents the active life [7]. Others, such as Matthew Henry, interpret the story as teaching the importance of hospitality and serving others, while also prioritizing one's spiritual relationship with God [6]. The passage has also been seen as highlighting the value of listening to Jesus' teaching and the relative importance of different activities in the Christian life.
In Christian tradition, this passage has functioned in various ways. It has been used to support the value of contemplation and the importance of prioritizing one's spiritual life. It has also been seen as teaching the importance of hospitality and service to others. The passage has been interpreted in different ways by various Christian traditions, including the Patristic, Nonconformist/Puritan, Protestant academic, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic (Scholastic), Presbyterian, Reformed, Reformed (Old Princeton), and Methodist/Wesleyan traditions [7, 6, 2].
The characterization of Martha and Mary in this passage has also been the subject of interpretation. Martha is often seen as representing a more active, practical form of devotion, while Mary is seen as embodying a more contemplative, receptive approach to faith [2, 3]. Smith's Bible Dictionary notes that Martha's "spirit is 'cumbered with much serving,' is 'careful and troubled about many things,'" while Mary's "first thought, when she saw the Teacher in whose power and love she trusted, was one of complaint" [2, 3].
The story of Mary and Martha continues to be relevant in Christian theology and practice, with ongoing debates about the relative importance of contemplation and action in the Christian life. As Calvin notes in his Institutes, the passage highlights the importance of prioritizing one's relationship with God [8]. The passage remains a rich source of reflection and interpretation, offering insights into the nature of faith, hospitality, and service.
Sources
- Luke “Luke 10:38 (BSB) — As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Martha — (a lady), the sister of Lazarus and Mary. [[845]Lazarus] The facts recorded in Luke 10 and John 11 indicate a character devout after the customary Jewish type of devotion, sharing in Messianic hopes and accepting Jesus as the Christ. When she first comes before us, (Luke 10:38) her spirit is "cumbered with much serving," is "careful and troubled about many things." Her love, though imperfect in its form, is yet recognized as true, and she has the distinction of being one whom Jesus loved. (John 11:5) Her position is obviously that of the elder sister the head”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mary, Sister Of Lazarus — She and her sister Martha appear in (Luke 10:40) as receiving Christ in their house. Mary sat listening eagerly for every word that fell from the divine Teacher. She had chosen that good part, the "one thing needful." The same character shows itself in the history of (John 11:1) ... Her grief was deeper, but less active. Her first thought, when she saw the Teacher in whose power and love she that trusted, was one of complaint. But the great joy and love which her brother's return to life called up in her poured themselves out in larger measur”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 10:38: 10:38-42 Martha . . . Mary and their brother Lazarus were good friends of Jesus who lived in Bethany, east of Jerusalem (see John 11:1).”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 10:38: MARTHA AND MARY. (Luk 10:38-42) certain village--Bethany (Joh 11:1), which Luke so speaks of, having no farther occasion to notice it. received him . . . her house--The house belonged to her, and she appears throughout to be the older sister.”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 10:38: We may observe in this story, I. The entertainment which Martha gave to Christ and his disciples at her house, Luk 10:38. Observe, 1. Christ's coming to the village where Martha lived: As they went (Christ and his disciples together), he and they with him entered into a certain village. This village was Bethany, nigh to Jerusalem, whither Christ was now going up, and he took this in his way. Note (1.) Our Lord Jesus went about doing good (Act 10:38), scattering his benign beams and influences as the true light of the world. (2.) Wherever Christ went his disciples w”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — AGAIN, ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, LUKE X. 38, ETC., ABOUT MARTHA AND MARY. (part 3): "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God:"(8) see what Mary was listening to! "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt 430 among us:"(1) see to whom Martha was ministering! Therefore "hath Mary chosen the better part, which shall not be taken from her." For she chose that which shall abide for ever; "it shall not be taken from her." She wished to be occupied about "one thing." She understood already, "But it is good for me to”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 49: declaring him to be “God blessed for ever,” he mentions separately, that, “as concerning the flesh, he was descended from the Jews.” Again if he had not been truly begotten of the seed of David, what is the meaning of the expression, that he is the “fruit of his loins;” or what the meaning of the promise, “Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne?” ( Ps. 132:11 ). Moreover their mode of dealing with the genealogy of Christ, as given by Matthew, is mere sophistry; for though he reckons up the progenitors not of Mary, but ”