Luke 10:38-42 tells the story of two sisters, Martha and Mary, who welcome Jesus into their home. Martha is busy with the work of hosting while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening, and when Martha complains, Jesus gently says that Mary has chosen the better thing. The passage is about priorities: what truly matters in following Jesus, and how that can be easily lost in the middle of good, necessary tasks. It appears in Luke’s account of Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem, right after the parable of the Good Samaritan.
38 As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But 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.” 41 Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 (WEB)
Luke 10:38-42 Summary
Jesus enters a village and is welcomed into the home of a woman named Martha. Her sister Mary sits at his feet and listens to his teaching, while Martha is pulled in many directions by the work of serving a guest. She finally goes to Jesus and asks him to tell Mary to help her, expecting him to take her side.
Jesus answers her with a repeated name, which signals warmth and seriousness at once. He tells her that she is worried and upset about many things, that only one thing is truly needed, and that Mary has chosen that good part. The story ends there, leaving the reader to consider what that one thing is and why Mary’s choice holds.
Context of Luke 10:38-42
Luke’s Gospel is traditionally attributed to Luke, a companion of Paul, and it was written for a largely Gentile audience. In chapters 9 through 19, Luke presents a long section often called the travel narrative, in which Jesus moves steadily toward Jerusalem and teaches his disciples what it means to follow him. Within that section, the story of the Good Samaritan shows what love for a neighbor looks like in action.
The verses just before this passage are about active mercy, so readers may be surprised to find a story that seems to praise stillness. Luke places the two side by side on purpose. Serving others and sitting in Jesus’ presence are not opposites, but Luke wants his readers to see that devotion to Christ must come first, shaping the service that follows.
Luke 10:38-42 Verse by Verse
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
(WEB)
This verse calls the reader to be still and to recognize God’s presence and sovereignty. It pairs well with Mary’s stillness at Jesus’ feet, reminding us that quiet attention to God is a form of trust and worship.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
(WEB)
Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to him for rest. This promise speaks to Martha’s exhaustion and shows that the rest Jesus offers is available even in the middle of life’s demands.
A Prayer Based on Luke 10:38-42
Lord Jesus, you know how easily my days fill with tasks that seem urgent and good. Forgive me when I am so busy serving that I forget to sit at your feet and listen. Help me notice when my worry has turned into resentment, and bring me back to the one thing that is truly needed. Teach me to work from a heart that rests in your presence, and let my service grow out of time spent with you. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jesus correct Martha if she was serving him?
Jesus did not reject Martha’s service but addressed the anxiety and trouble that had taken over her heart. He wanted her to recognize that her work was not wrong in itself, but that it had crowded out the more important priority of listening to him.
What is the one thing needed in Luke 10:38-42?
The passage does not name the one thing in a single word, but the surrounding story points toward devoted attention to Jesus and his teaching. Mary’s choice to sit and listen shows what Jesus values most.
Does this passage mean that serving others is less important than prayer?
Scripture elsewhere calls believers to serve generously, so the passage is not setting service against devotion. Instead, it shows that a life of service is healthiest when it is rooted in a heart that first listens to Jesus.
