Luke 10_32_48 The Good Portion

Luke 10:38-42 Mini Exegesis

38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (KJV)

The Gospel of Luke was written under divine inspiration of God through the hands of Luke the Physician. Luke was not one of the original 12 disciples but is seen in acts as a companion of Paul. It s believed that Luke researched Jesus’ life by talking to eyewitnesses including Jesus’ mother Mary. The Gospel though written to a Roman official (Theophilus) is often called the universal Gospel declaring Jesus to be the “Son of Man” who entered the world to “seek and to save the lost.”

The order of the selected text takes place shortly after Jesus sent out the 70 into the harvest and their return. “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2). The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10:17) After their return Jesus is questioned by a scribe who asked “what must I do to inherit eternal life.” Jesus asked him “what is written in the law?” The lawyer recites “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; (Deut. 6:5) and your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev. 19:18). The lawyer then tests Jesus by asking “who is my neighbor.” Jesus proceeds with the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The events following the selected text are Jesus instructions to prayer. Often called “the Lord’s Prayer” but more aptly named “The Model Prayer;” When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” Jesus then gives a parable about persistent prayer.

The selected text seems to be an isolated text, perhaps connected to the opening of this chapter as Martha, Mary, and their householdare fruit gathered during the harvest of the 70. This cannot be confirmed but nonetheless here is a picture of the lost saved, one is serving and the other is worshipping. (Focusing on God and responding.)

Content

(38) The selected text begins with Jesus and His throng coming in to Bethany where they are welcomed into the home of Martha and Mary. Welcome is the Greek verb hypodechomai, it means to receive as a guest in one’s home, or to give lodging. This is the idea of showing hospitality. Hospitality is an important discipline in Christianity; though it is often lost in today’s social climate it was important in ancient Israel. Travelers were often welcomed into homes of villages they entered into. In Jesus’ day God’s provision for the disciples were often provided for through the hospitality of the people. This can be seen in Jesus’ sending of the 12 in Matthew 10 and in the sending of the 70 in Luke 10:2. Hospitality is often seen in the Old Testament, a couple examples are as follows:

Then the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.” (1 Kings 17:8). One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.” (2 Kings 4:8) But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him so that he became as a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. (1 Sam. 25:38-39)

How blessed was the home of Mary and Martha! The Son of Man took lodging in their home and He reclined and ate with them! I am reminded of Jesus visiting Abram; The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. 2 He looked up and noticed three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground. My lord,” he said, “if it pleases you, stop here for a while. 4 Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet. 5 And since you’ve honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey.”(Gen. 18:1-5)

By grace through faith Jesus lives in our hearts but is He welcome in our homes? Do we open our homes for His traveling workers? Are our homes seen as places of training in righteousness and launching pads of daily ministry? We would do well to become people of great hospitality. “Once while living in Alabama we opened our home to missionaries Fred and Eva Schweig, what a blessing it was.”

(39) Martha had a sister whose name was Mary. Notice the contrast between Mary and Martha beginning in verse 39; Mary is recorded as being seated at Jesus’ feet and listening to His word. Seated is the Greek verb parakathezomai which means to sit beside. In this context Mary is seated beside Jesus’ feet. This is the only use of parakathezomai in the Bible yet this is not the only instance where Mary is found to be at the feet of Jesus. Mary is mentioned three times in the scriptures (Luke 10:38-42, John 11:32, and John 12: 3) each time she is shown to be at the feet of Jesus. Mary had an uncanny way of absorbing the presence of Jesus and focusing on Him as though He was the only thing in this world. In this text seated at Jesus’ feet gives the idea of focus and discipleship. People normally sat on chairs or, at banquets, reclined on couches; but disciples sat at the feet of their teacher. As Paul defended himself before the Jews, he said “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers, being zealous for God just as you all are today. (Acts 22:3). Notice that she was listening to His word. Word is the Greek noun logos which means message. She was listening to Jesus’ message! The theme of Luke is “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” This is the Gospel message and a question seemingly on the minds of those whom Jesus and His disciples came in contact with is “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” I believe that Jesus was speaking the Gospel and the eternal thinsg the Gospel brings. Mary was focused on the Eternal Things that never perish!

(40) Mary was focused on Jesus, learning and absorbing His presence but Martha was busy serving. Distracted is the Greek verb perispaō which means to be distracted and anxious. A.T. Robertson says this gives the idea of being anxious in both mind and looks. What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches? A nervous wreck! Martha seems to be a nervous wreck. She was busy with all her preparations. The Greek adjective polysis translates, “with all.” It means many or a great number. Preparations is the Greek noun diakonia, in this context it means waiting upon, or to serve food and drink to those eating. Martha was one person serving many, for sure she was serving Jesus and the 12 disciples but most likely there were many more. Perhaps villagers came to hear and Jesus teach it is also possible that the 70 were still with Him. She had taken on a major task!

Service is a good trait, Martha had many good traits, she was hospitable, she was a servant, she trusted in Jesus (John 11:3, 21). She was also a woman of faith, She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” (John 11:27). But she was wrapped up in the temporal things of life, Jesus said “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing? “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:31,33). In her serving she got bitter, we should always have the purest motives as we serve and the mindset of “though I serve alone I will serve if I must.”

Martha “came up to” Jesus, this is the Greek verb ephistēmi it means stepping up to or bursting in or upon Jesus. It is an explosive act. This word is used in Luke 20:1 where it is translated “confronted” On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him. Martha confronted Jesus saying “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” This was a reproach and she blamed Jesus for allowing her to struggle under the weight of the burden alone.” Has left is the Greek verb kataleipō which means to leave without help. This verb is in the imperfect active which means she keeps on leaving. It seems that at Martha’s urging Mary has broken away from Jesus but she kept coming back. Her attention was not on the manna but on the Master. Martha was busy serving alone. Serving is the Greek verb diakoneō it means to wait upon, to render humble service it is translated as ”serve as deacons” in 1 Tim. 3:10. Martha tells Jesus to tell Mary to help her.

(41) Jesus answered Martha you are worried and bothered about so many things. Worried is the Greek verb merimnaō it means be anxious about, worry, have anxiety, be concerned. It is the idea of being divided and distracted. Jesus uses this word over and again in His sermon on the mount.

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matt. 6:25) And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? (Matt. 6:27). “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, (Matt. 6:28) Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ (Matt. 6:31) “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt. 6:34).

Bothered is the Greek verb thorybazomai, it is used 1 time in the N.T. it means to be worried, it is translated 7 different ways, be upset (NIV), be distracted (NRSV), bothered NASB), troubled (ASV, KJV, NKJV, RSV), fret (NJB), fuss (NED, REB), worried (NAB). Notice that Jesus uses many words to describe Martha; (perispaō) Distracted, (merimna ) Worried, and (thorybazomai) Bothered. Jesus seems to say to Martha that only one dish was really necessary for the meal instead of the “many” about which she was so anxious.

(42) Jesus tells Martha that instead of all the things she is doing there is only one thing that is necessary. Martha has been distracted by the temporal, working for the food that perishes but Jesus says “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.” Necessary is the Greek noun chreia it means what is needed. And Mary has chosen what is needed! This is a an allusion to an O.T. text, One thing I have asked from the Lord, that shall I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold (to see) the beauty of the Lord (Mary was mesmerized by the Lord Jesus) And to meditate (Mary was absorbing the presence of Jesus is this world) in His temple.

Jesus is not telling Martha to be saved, she already received salvation “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You arethe Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.” (John 11:27) Believed is in perfect tense and active, the NLT translates this, “I have always believed.” She has believed since she first met Him! Jesus is telling her to grasp the opportunity for fellowship with the Lord while He is there with them! Mary had chosen the best dish on the table and it was Jesus! The time she spent with her Lord was priceless and the benefits that she received from that time with Jesus could never be taken away from her.