Luke 10:38-42 tells the short story of Martha and Mary, two sisters who welcomed Jesus into their home. The passage teaches that while service matters, sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to his word is the one thing truly needed, and Mary has chosen it. It comes in Luke’s travel narrative, right after the parable of the Good Samaritan, as Jesus moves toward Jerusalem.
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 arrives in a village and is welcomed into the house of a woman named Martha. Her sister Mary sits down at Jesus’ feet, the posture of a student listening to a teacher, and takes in what he says. Martha is pulled in many directions by the work of hosting, and she finally comes to Jesus with a complaint, asking him to tell Mary to help her.
Jesus answers with a gentle repetition of her name. He observes that she is worried and upset about many things, then points to a single thing that matters most. Mary has picked the better portion, and it cannot be taken from her. The story ends there, leaving the reader to consider what it means to choose well when many tasks are calling.
Context of Luke 10:38-42
Luke’s Gospel is traditionally attributed to Luke, a companion of Paul, and is written for a readership that includes Gentile believers. Luke places this scene within a larger section (chapters 9 through 18) that follows Jesus on his way to Jerusalem, where he teaches discipleship at every stop. The story immediately follows the parable of the Good Samaritan, in which a man’s love for a stranger is shown through practical action.
That placement matters. Just before this scene, Jesus has called his hearers to active mercy, and now he shows that active service is not the whole of discipleship. Martha’s work is not condemned as wrong, but it is set beside a deeper kind of attention. Luke holds action and attentiveness together, and this passage helps the reader see how they relate.
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 recognize God’s presence. Like Mary at Jesus’ feet, the psalmist invites a pause from restless activity so that the heart can rest in the knowledge of who God is.
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. The invitation echoes Luke 10 by showing that Jesus welcomes those who are overwhelmed and offers them himself as their refuge.
A Prayer Based on Luke 10:38-42
Lord Jesus, I confess that my days often fill up with tasks that seem urgent, and I find myself worried about many things. Help me to set down my anxiety and come to you as Mary did, sitting at your feet and listening to your word. Teach me to recognize the one thing that is truly needed, and give me a heart that chooses the good part. When I serve, let it flow from time spent with you, and when I am tempted to compare my work to someone else’s, remind me that you see me and care for me. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Martha wrong to be busy with serving?
The passage does not condemn Martha’s service as sinful. Jesus gently corrects her anxiety and her focus, pointing out that one thing is needed more than anything else. Service is good when it flows from a heart that first listens to Jesus.
What does it mean that Mary chose the good part?
Mary chose to sit and learn from Jesus, which put his word at the center of her attention. Jesus calls this the better portion because it is lasting and cannot be taken away. It describes a priority that shapes everything else a person does.
How does Luke 10:38-42 connect to the Good Samaritan?
The story follows the parable of the Good Samaritan, which emphasizes active mercy toward others. Luke places the two passages side by side to show that action and attentiveness both belong to discipleship. Together they give a fuller picture of following Jesus.
