Luke 10:38-42 (3)

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-Well, we’ve come to the final section of Luke 10...

And as always, I would encourage you to...

Turn there

Follow along in your own Bibles.

-And what we have, here...

…beginning in Verse 38...

…is an account of those well-known sisters...

(Mary and Martha)

…which is only recorded, here, in Luke’s Gospel.

-And, it's one of those portions of Scripture...

That focuses primarily...

Not on abstract theology (Orthodoxy)

But on How we live our lives (Orthopraxy)

And, it has affected me deeply...

…as I’ve studied it this week...

And knowing how most of you are geared...

(With commendably strong Protestant work-ethics)...

…I’m guessing, that...

… it’s likely to have a similar affect…

…on many of you as well.

But… it is God’s Word...

And, as such, we need to hear it!

Amen?

-Alright, let’s begin reading in Verse 38.

Please follow along.

This is the Holy Word of the Living God.

Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

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Pray

-It’s hard to pinpoint (at least for me)...

…exactly when this event occured...

…in relation to other events...

...in the gospel narratives.

What seems to be clear enough...

…from the way Luke introduces it...

…is that it happened some time after:

The Sending and Returning of the Seventy

Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Last Week)...

...And some time before...

Jesus began his final ministry in Judea.

-One important thing that that tells us...

…is that it is a different event...

…than those recorded in John 11-12.

So, do bear that in mind…

…and try not to conflate the two events in your mind.

-That stated, look at the way Luke introduces this event in Verse 38:

Luke 10:38 (ESV)

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village...

So, Luke connects it to the previous event...

(The Testing of the Lawyer)

...And says that...

…as they continued on their Journey, following that event...

…that Jesus enters into an unspecified village.

-However, we know from John’s Gospel...

…that the name of that village was...

…(more than likely) Bethany, in Judea.

-Bethany was a small village located...

On the Mount of Olives

About 2 miles East of Jerusalem

On the Road to Jericho.

And despite (or maybe because of) its geopolitical insignificance...

...It was a place that seemed near and dear to Jesus’ heart...

A place that we see him visiting many times.

And one of the primary reasons for that...

…appears to be, that...

…a family lived there…

…that Jesus dearly loved

-And two of the people in that family...

…are being introduced in our text.

The first, is in the second sentence of Verse 38:

Luke 10:38 (ESV)

38 ...Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

Now, there’s a lot more to that little statement...

…than tends to meet our 21st Century eyes.

For one thing…

…it reminds us of the...

Importance

Prominence

…of Middle Eastern Hospitality.

Remember, Jesus was an Itinerant Preacher...

He traveled around a lot...

…during His earthly ministry...

And as such, in his humanity...

…He and his followers...

…were dependent upon the hospitality of others.

-Remember how, after the Samaritan Village had refused...

…to extend that kindness to Jesus...

…he had said:

Luke 9:58 (ESV)

58 . . . “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”

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But, here (in contrast to that)...

…Jesus is being received warmly.

-Now, I point that out for this reason:

Because of the fact that Martha is...

...the one being corrected in this story...

…We have a tendency to criticize her...

More than we should

To an extent that Jesus never did.

-But, it’s so important that we understand...

…That Martha’s hosting and hospitality...

(for which she is well-known)

…is NOT a bad thing!

In fact, it’s actually being presented here...

…as a very, very GOOD thing!

-She’s being introduced, here...

…as someone who is faithful to the Lord!

She:

Receives him (and his Disciples, probably) into her home

Works diligently to provide...

…the very best she’s able to provide for them.

Guys, is that a fruit of the Spirit?

Philip Ryken reminds us of this:

Martha was right to give this kind of welcome because hospitality is one of the noble virtues of godliness.

“Seek to show hospitality” (Rom. 12:13), the Scripture says.

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:9–10).

Martha used her gift of hospitality to serve others, and when she had the opportunity to do this work for Jesus, she wanted to shine.

As the Son of God, he deserved the best welcome that she could give him. — Ryken

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Do we agree with that assessment?

-The reality is, that...

...for most of us here at this church...

…Martha would be our kind of lady:

Look at this, again, from Ryken:

Martha was the responsible one, the type who is always volunteering and always making sure that everything is done to her standards.

She was one of the 20 percent who end up doing 80 percent of the work.

And if there was one area where Martha excelled, it was in the gift of hospitality. Today people would call her “the hostess with the mostest.” — Ryken

Is this our type of woman?

And I would argue...

…that our tendency would be...

…to have more respect for a woman like Martha...

…than we would for a woman like her sister...

…who is introduced in Verse 39.

Look at it with me:

Luke 10:39 (ESV)

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

So, Martha is introduced as a...

diligent

hard-working

hospitable...

…HOSTESS.

Mary, in contrast, is introduced as...

More of a passive, physically inactive LEARNER.

(i.e., a student)

She doesn’t appear to be...

…working to provide the hospitality...

…that Jesus and his disciples need.

She isn’t giving to Jesus

She’s receiving from Him

(That may be more important of a detail...

…than what we think)

-Now, before we go any deeper, here...

Which of these ladies...

…seems the most virtuous to you?

Probably Martha, right?

-However, Mary is presented...

…very positively in the Bible.

For instance, at a later visit from Jesus...

John tells us:

John 12:2–3 (ESV)

2 ...they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table.

3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair...

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So, while we would tend to see in Mary...

…someone who was...

Playing the God card...

...to get out of work...

John and Luke present her as...

…a woman who is simply...

Passionately devoted to Jesus.

-You see, that language that Luke uses, there...

…is very specific.

It describes the subservient relationship...

Of a disciple

To his Master.

For example, Paul said that he was...

Acts 22:3 (ESV)

3 “...educated at the feet of Gamaliel...

More importantly, we see things like:

Luke 8:35 (ESV)

35 …They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind...

Jesus now controls the man

He sits submissively at his feet...

…awaiting his instruction.

(Mary’s starting to sound a lot better, isn’t she?)

-Now, before we read Verse 40...

...We need to remember this:

John 11:5 (ESV)

5 ...Jesus loved Martha and her sister...

Here’s why I point that out:

Again, from Ryken:

…These two women had two distinct ways of serving God:

Martha served him with her hands, while Mary served him with her mind and her heart.

But both sisters wanted to honor God with true devotion to Jesus Christ.

There were some problems with Martha’s attitude, as we shall see, but we do her an injustice if we fail to recognize the sincerity of her love for Jesus.

Like Mary, this godly woman deserves our admiration. — Ryken

-Alright, Look at Verse 40:

Luke 10:40 (ESV)

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving...

i.e., too much serving

over-the-top hospitality

unnecessary amounts of serving

So, this is the first thing negative...

…that has been said about Martha.

The word Luke uses in the original (Which only occurs here), means:

“To be pulled, dragged away”

So then, two questions:

1.) What is pulling Martha away?

2.) From what is she being pulled?

1. Well, it’s her commendable hospitality...

....that is dragging her away...

2. And the thing that she is being taken away from...

…the thing that is most important...

…is every word that was preceding...

…out of the mouth of Christ!

(That’s what she was missing out on)

-This is Luke’s inspired assessment of Martha’s heart, here.

He is telling us that...

…even this good service that she was rendering TO Christ...

…was pulling her away...

…from her relationship WITH Christ!

-And to illustrate that...

…he tells us this:

Verse 40, Second Sentence:

Luke 10:40 (ESV)

40 ...she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

First off, notice that...

…people haven’t changed in 2,000 years!

We all get like this when...

We have a lot to do

We’re stressed out

People who ought to be helping us… AREN’T!

-But, notice where Martha’s fretting...

…causes her to commit a dangerous sin:

The Reformation Study Bible says:

Her frustration finally erupts against Jesus, and she accuses Him of not caring about her plight (cf. the disciples’ desperate question amid the storm; Mark 4:38). — RSB

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-Do you see how it all devolved here?

There’s a great lesson in it for us.

She started out well:

She was diligent in her hospitality

As the pressure mounted...

She began to get angry at her sister.

When her huffing an puffing...

…and grumbling against her sister didn’t solve it...

She fixed her ire upon the Thing that had her sister distracted!

She pointed her finger at Christ!

(And, that is a more universal experience...

…than what you and I tend to realize)

Not keeping our pride and anger in check...

…can/does lead to terrible consequences in our lives.

-Now, in Verse 40, we saw...

…Luke’s inspired indictment of Martha...

In Verse 41, Jesus addresses her himself.

And again, keep in mind, that:

John 11:5 (ESV)

5 ...Jesus loved Martha and her sister...

Why?

Because it reminds us of this:

Hebrews 12:5–6 (ESV)

5 . . . “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

We tend to get this backwards!

-Now, watch how Jesus reproves her.

Here too, we have a great lesson...

…that we need to apply to our lives.

Notice, that Jesus doesn’t:

Lash out at her in retribution

Belittle her

Mock her

Make fun of her

He lovingly but firmly...

…points out her sin.

Luke tells us:

Luke 10:41 (ESV)

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

Notice a few things in that...

…before we read the rest:

1.) The emphatic repetition of her name.

He isn’t being ...

Cold

Uncaring

Dispassionate.

He addresses her...

Firmly

Tenderly

He lets her know...

…that she’s not just something abstract...

…but someone that he is correcting...

…because he cares about them!

We need to learn from that

2.) Notice the sympathetic descriptions:

The ESV had said:

Anxious and Troubled

The NASB renders it:

Luke 10:41 (NASB95)

41 ...you are worried and bothered about so many things;

There’s a recognition and a warning there...

…but it’s given in language that implies sympathy.

We need to learn from that

3.) Notice the clear indictment...

…of the flaw in her very nature:

Luke 10:41 (ESV)

41 . . . “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

This was a pattern in her life.

And, He’s lovingly not allowing her to make excuses for herself...

And, He’s lovingly calling her to repent of it!

We need to learn from that.

-Now, he ultimately identifies...

…Two, very related problems...

…with Martha’s heart.

The first is in Verse 41...

The Second is in Verse 42.

-What’s the ultimate sin of Martha in Verse 41?

It’s the sin of anxiety!

Why is anxiety a sin?

Because it questions:

The Power of God (ability to provide)

The Goodness of God (kind intentions of his will)

And because it:

Makes an Idol of lesser things!

God is enough!

Matthew 6:25 (ESV)

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Matthew 6:31–33 (ESV)

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

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-Now, in Verse 42...

…we see the second indictment against Martha...

…being illustrated in Jesus’ affirmation...

…of the very behavior of her sister...

…that had gotten Martha so upset in the first place.

He says:

Luke 10:41–42 (ESV)

41 . . . “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

42 but one thing is necessary...

You see, the “many,” even GOOD things...

…that Martha was concerned with...

…were choking out the “one” thing...

…that towered above them all.

And here, we must heed the warning...

…in the Parable of the Soils:

Luke 8:14 (ESV)

14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

All that is fine and good (if not idolized)...

…but one thing towers over them all.

What is it?

Rather, WHO is it?

-And that’s what Jesus was pointing out to Martha.

Mary wasn’t being lazy.

She was...

“Keeping the Main thing, the Main thing”

And, that’s what Martha was failing to do.

-Jesus spells that out at the end of Verse 42:

Luke 10:42 (ESV)

42 ...one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

This is/has always been...

....the Main thing for God’s people.

It was never ULTIMATELY about:

Money

Land

Earthly Power

Earthly Success

It has always been about...

…their relationship with God:

Let me show you that:

Psalm 16:5 (ESV)

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

Psalm 27:3–4 (ESV)

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 73:25–26 (ESV)

25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

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Brethren…

Christ is the good portion!

He alone endures forever

He will NEVER be taken away from us.

Consequently… Absolutely NOTHING must ever be allowed to....

“distract” us from Him

“Pull us away” from Him

NOTHING...

Not even our jobs

Not even our families

Not even our ministries...

NOTHING, must ever...

Cause us to take our eyes off of him

We MUST, by the power of the Holy Spirit...

…Stay FOREVER...

Seated at His feet

Feeding on His Words.

Let’s ask for Grace to do that.

Pray