Luke 10:38 - Meaning and Application

We can observe here the welcome Martha gave to Christ and his disciples at her house, in verse 38. As they traveled together, Jesus and his disciples entered a certain village. This village was Bethany, near Jerusalem, and Jesus took this route on his way there. Our Lord went about doing good (Acts 10:38), spreading his kindness and light as the true light of the world.

Wherever Christ went, his disciples went with him. He also honored country villages with his presence and favor, not only large and crowded cities. He chose quiet places, and he showed kindness to poor people. Martha, a woman in that village, received him into her house and welcomed him well, because she was the one in charge there. Jesus was so poor while he lived on earth that he depended on friends for support. Though he was Zion’s King, he had no house of his own in Jerusalem or near it.

Some people were special friends of Christ, and he loved them in a more personal way. He visited this family often because he loved them (John 11:5). Christ’s visits are signs of his love (John 14:23). There were also those who gladly received him into their homes while he was on earth. This house is called Martha’s, probably because she was a widow and managed it herself. Even though it would have cost much to entertain Christ, since he did not come alone but brought his disciples, she did not mind the expense.

Even though it was becoming dangerous to host him, especially so near Jerusalem, she still did not care what risk she took for his name’s sake. Many rejected him and would not receive him, but one person did welcome him. Christ is spoken against everywhere, but there is still a remnant, a smaller group who belong to him and are dear to him.

We also see Mary, Martha’s sister, attending to Christ’s teaching. As soon as Jesus came into Martha’s house, even before the meal was prepared, he turned to his great work of preaching the gospel. Mary sat to hear him, which suggests he spoke at length. A good sermon is no less valuable because it is preached in a house. When friends visit us, we should manage things so the visit also helps our souls.

Mary took this chance seriously, not knowing when she would hear him again. Since Christ is ready to speak, we should be quick to listen. She sat to hear, which shows close attention. Her mind was settled, and she meant to take in everything Jesus said. She sat at his feet, like students sitting at the feet of their teacher while he gives instruction. Paul was said to have been brought up at the feet of Gamaliel. To sit at Christ’s feet means being ready to receive his word and fully surrendering ourselves to his guidance.

We must either sit at Christ’s feet or become his footstool. But if we sit at his feet now, we will sit with him on his throne later. Martha, meanwhile, was busy with much serving, and that kept her from sitting where Mary was, listening to Christ. She was preparing food and lodging for Jesus and those with him. Perhaps she had not known he was coming and was unprepared, so she hurried to make everything proper for such guests. Hosts know how much work and bustle a large meal can bring.

There was something good in Martha’s actions that should not be missed. She showed real respect for Jesus, and it seems she did it from love, not from a wish to be seen. Those who truly love Christ will think money is well spent when it is used to honor him. She also showed proper care for her household affairs. The family seems to have been respected among the Jews (John 11:19), and yet Martha did not think it beneath her to serve in the home when needed. Those who are in charge of households must watch over the ways of their homes carefully. A love of comfort and show leaves many families neglected.

But there was also fault in Martha’s behavior. She wanted much serving. Her heart was set on a rich and elaborate meal, with plenty, variety, and careful detail, as the custom of the place allowed. She was busy about much attendance. It does not suit Christ’s disciples to crave luxury, rich extras, and needless display in food and drink. Why should there be much serving when much less would do?

She was also cumbered about it, meaning she was distracted and weighed down by it. Whatever cares God’s providence places on us, we must not let them overwhelm us. Care is sometimes right and necessary, but being tangled up and upset by it is sin and folly. She was troubled by much serving at the very time she should have been with her sister, sitting at Christ’s feet to hear his word. Worldly business becomes a trap when it keeps us from serving God and doing what is good for our souls.

Martha then complained to Jesus about her sister Mary for not helping with the housework (Luke 10:40): “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Ask her to help me.” This complaint reveals something worldly in Martha. It sounds like the voice of anxious care and inner agitation. She speaks as though she were deeply angry with her sister, or else she would not have brought the matter to Christ. Inordinate worldly cares and pursuits often stir up trouble in families and lead to strife among relatives.

People who are eager for worldly success are often quick to criticize those who are not. While they excuse their own love of the world, they judge others by how useful they are to worldly goals. They are ready to condemn those who give themselves to religious duties, as if they were neglecting what they call the real opportunity.

Martha, angry with her sister, appealed to Christ and wanted him to say she was right to be upset. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” It seems Christ had sometimes shown tender concern for Martha’s comfort, and she expected him now to tell Mary to help her. When Martha was worried, she wanted Mary, Christ, and everyone else to agree with her, or she was not satisfied.

We should remember that those who are quickest to appeal to God are not always right. We must be careful not to expect Christ to support our unfair and groundless quarrels. The burdens he places on us, we can gladly bring to him, but not the burdens we foolishly bring on ourselves. He will defend the poor and those who are truly wronged, but not the restless and quarrelsome.

This can also be seen as a discouragement to Mary’s devotion. Martha should have praised her sister for sitting at Christ’s feet and listening to him. Instead, she blamed her as if she were failing in her duty. It is no surprise when those who are devoted to religion meet with trouble from people around them, not only from enemies, but even from friends. David’s fasting and his dancing before the ark were both used against him.

Christ’s reply to Martha is recorded in Luke 10:41. Since she had appealed to him, he gave judgment against her: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.” He rebuked her even though he was her guest. Her fault was that she was too anxious to entertain him, and she expected him to approve of it. Yet he corrected her openly. Those whom Christ loves, he rebukes and disciplines.

He called her by name, Martha, because personal correction is more likely to help. Nathan’s words to David, “You are the man” (2 Samuel 12:7), are a good example. Christ repeated her name, Martha, Martha, speaking with earnest care for her good. People who are trapped in the concerns of this life are not easily freed from them. To such people we must say again and again, “Listen, earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord.”

Christ reproved Martha for being worried and upset about many things. He was not pleased that she thought she had to honor him with a rich and elaborate meal, while burdening herself in the process. He teaches us not to be selfish in this way, happy for others to be troubled as long as we get what we want. His words rebuke both the strength of her worry and the wide reach of it. She was divided and disturbed by her care, and she wanted many comforts, so she had many disappointments. Her many concerns left her irritated and out of sorts.

This kind of anxious care is a common fault among Christ’s disciples. It is very displeasing to him, and they often feel God’s own correction for it. If they fret without good reason, it is only right that he sometimes lets them face something real to fret about.

What made Martha’s anxiety especially foolish was that only one thing is needed. Some take this in a simple way: Martha was preparing many dishes, but only one would have been enough. If so, this gives us a lesson in moderation, so that we do not chase many kinds of food and pleasures, but are content with little (Proverbs 23:1-3). Others take it more deeply, as a warning against a divided mind. What is needed is one heart, fixed on the word, not pulled in many directions as Martha was at that moment.

The one thing needful is surely what Mary chose, sitting at Christ’s feet and listening to his word. Martha was troubled about many things when she should have focused on one. Godliness brings the heart together, while the world scatters it. The many things Martha worried about were unnecessary, while the one thing she neglected was essential. Martha’s work was good in its proper place and time, but now she had something far more important to do. It should have come first and taken the main place in her thoughts. She expected Christ to blame Mary for not doing what she was doing, but instead he blamed Martha for not doing what Mary was doing. Christ’s judgment is always true. One day Martha would wish she had sat where Mary sat.

Christ then approved and praised Mary for her serious devotion: “Mary has chosen the good part.” Mary said nothing in her own defense, but since Martha had appealed to the Master, she was willing to leave the matter with him. Here is his answer. Mary had rightly given the higher place to what deserved it most. Since only one thing is needful, the one thing she chose was to give herself to Christ’s guidance and to receive instruction from his mouth. Serious godliness is necessary, the one thing needful, because nothing else can truly do us good in this life, and nothing but that will go with us into the next.

Mary also chose wisely for her own good. Christ defended her against her sister’s complaints. Even if people blame us for our devotion and zeal, the Lord Jesus will stand for us. We should not condemn the sincere zeal of others, or we may find Christ opposed to us. And we should not be discouraged if people speak against our devotion, because Christ is for us. In the end, Mary’s choice will be shown to be right, and so will the choice of all who follow her example.

But Christ did more than defend her. He praised her wisdom. “She has chosen the good part.” She chose to be with Christ, to take her place with him, and to pursue the better work and the better happiness. She chose the better way to honor Christ and please him, by receiving his word into her heart, instead of only preparing for his stay in her house.

A share with Christ is the better share. It belongs to the soul and to eternity, and Christ gives it to those he loves (John 13:8). It belongs to those who belong to Christ, and who share in his life and future glory (Hebrews 3:14; Romans 8:17).

This share will never be taken away from those who have it. Anything we possess in this life will be taken from us in the end, if not before. But nothing can separate us from Christ’s love, or from our place in that love. Men and demons cannot take it away, and God and Christ will not.

It is both wise and necessary for each of us to choose this good share. We should choose God’s service as our work, God’s favor as our happiness, and a place in Christ so that we may have both. In daily choices, we should choose whatever leads us toward true religion, and count that best which is best for our souls.

Mary was choosing between joining Martha in household duties and gaining a good reputation as a careful homemaker, or sitting at Jesus’ feet and showing herself a devoted disciple. By that one choice, Jesus judged her general choice of what mattered most. Those who choose this good share will not only receive what they chose, but their choice will be praised on the great day.