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Name:
BIBLE S P : OTUDY ROJECT BSERVATION TEMPLATE XAMPLE E
Passage: Luke 10:38-42
I. Observation
A. I have read Luke 10:38-42 in both a formal translation (NASB, NRSV, ESV, or CSB)
and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer.
oYes
oNo
B. Having read the passage in both a formal and a functional translation, list at least 2
similarities and 3 differences in the way both translations cover this story.
a. Similarity – Both translations note that specifically Martha welcomed Jesus into her
home. Mary is not mentioned until after Martha has welcomed Jesus into her home.
b. Similarity – Both translations pointedly state that Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet” to
listen to Jesus’ teaching.
c. Similarity – In both the ESV and NLT, Martha commands Jesus to tell Mary to
assist her in serving. Martha does not tell Mary directly.
d. Similarity – Both translations recognize that the one “thing” (NLT) or “good
portion” (ESV) that Mary has chosen “will not be taken away from her.” The
translation is exactly the same for this specific phrase.
e. Difference – The ESV doesn’t state where Jesus and his disciples (“they” in the
ESV) were traveling when they stopped in Mary and Martha’s village, but the NLT
notes that they were on their way to Jerusalem.
f. Difference – The NLT says that Martha welcomes Jesus and all of his disciples into
her home while the ESV translation states that Martha welcomed only Jesus into her
house.
g. Difference – The ESV text recognizes that Martha was distracted with “much
serving” while the NLT indicates that Martha was distracted by a big dinner that she
was preparing.
h. Difference – In the ESV, Jesus tells Martha that she is “anxious” and “troubled”
about “many things.” In the NLT, Jesus says that Martha is “worried” and “upset”
over “all these details.” Although these words are different, they indicate that
Martha is preoccupied with her service.
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C. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying.
1. Main characters: (List them)
Jesus, Mary, and Martha
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
Jesus and his disciples stop at a village in the midst of their travels, and a woman named
Martha welcomes them into her home. Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to his teaching
while Martha focuses on serving. Martha, thinking that it is unfair for her to work alone,
commands Jesus to tell Mary to help her serve. Instead, Jesus tells Martha that she is
worried and anxious about serving while Mary has made a good decision by sitting at the
Lord’s feet. Jesus says the “good portion” that Mary chose will not be taken away from
her.
3. Story structure: (50-100 words)
Introduction: Jesus and his disciples enter a village, and a woman named Martha
welcomes the men into her home.
Inciting Incident: Mary sits at Jesus’ feet to hear his teaching.
Rising Action: Martha’s service distracts her from the guests.
Climax: Martha tells Jesus to make Mary help her with the work.
Falling Action: Jesus recognizes that Martha’s work has troubled her and made her
anxious when she should be focused on just one thing.
Resolution: Jesus commends Mary for resting at his feet and spending time him with
while Martha worked him by completing acts of service.for
D. List basic observations about this passage using the “Key Question” for observation.
Remember to consult the list of items from the observation section in studying the
Gospels in Chapter 36. This will help you be more detailed in your answers to “who,”
“what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how.”
1. Who:
Luke (author)
Theophilus and other Gentiles with largely Greek backgrounds (audience)
o“The conclusion is that Luke’s primary recipient (Theophilus), and
others beyond him, were Gentiles with largely Greek backgrounds”
(Hindson and Towns, p. 373).
Mary
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Martha
Jesus
Jesus’ disciples (traveling with Jesus – not main characters in this story)
2. What:
Jesus and his disciples visit Mary and Martha’s village in the midst of their travel.
Martha welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her house. She shows hospitality in her
willingness to serve Jesus and his disciples.
Mary sits at Jesus’ feet to hear his teaching. Her posture before Jesus is one of awe; she
humbles herself before him as she sits on the ground, attentively listening. This indicates
that Mary recognizes Jesus’ unending wisdom. She eagerly submits to his teaching.
Martha’s service distracted her from being at Jesus’ feet with Mary. Martha had good
intentions as she aimed to serve Jesus and his disciples, but her work became overly
important to her.
Martha told Jesus to instruct Mary to work with her, but Jesus insisted that Mary made a
good choice by sitting at his feet and listening to his teaching. Martha believed she was in
the right for working so hard. While Martha aimed to serve Jesus, he indicated that Mary
made a better decision by being in his presence instead of worrying about her service for
him.
Jesus says that Mary’s “good portion,” or her time spent at Jesus’ feet, will never be taken
away from her.
3. Where:
The region of Judea.
Mary and Martha’s village – the village of Bethany (near Jerusalem).
oJohn 11:1 says, “Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of
Mary and her sister Martha” (ESV).
Martha’s house.
4. When:
The story takes place during Jesus’ lifetime, specifically during his earthly ministry.
Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha occurs just after he teaches the parable of the Good
Samaritan. After the story of Mary and Martha in Luke chapter 10, chapter 11 begins
when Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray using the Lord’s Prayer.
This narrative takes place after Jesus has set out resolutely for Jerusalem and his
death, burial, resurrection, and ascension (Luke 9:51)
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5. Why:
Why did Jesus visit Mary and Martha?
oJohn 11:5 says, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus”
(ESV).
oThis Scripture indicates that Jesus knew Mary and Martha and loved them.
Whether to rest in the midst of travel or simply to visit the sisters, Jesus
visits the village of Bethany, and the story takes place as Martha welcomes
Jesus and his disciples into her home.
Why did Mary sit at Jesus’ feet?
oMary’s position demonstrates her eagerness to listen to Jesus. She surely
understood his authority and sat humbly before him in order to learn from
his teaching.
Why did Martha get distracted with serving?
oIt seems that Martha acted with good intentions. She did not serve Jesus in
order to win his praise; rather, she hoped to demonstrate kindness toward
Jesus and honor him.
oHowever, Martha let her work trouble her. Her service for Jesus became
more important to her than spending time with Jesus.
6. How:
How did Martha serve Jesus and his disciples?
oMartha first served Jesus and his disciples by welcoming them into her
home.
oThe NLT says that Martha prepared a meal for Jesus and his disciples.
Meal preparation distracted Martha from sitting at Jesus’ feet like Mary.
How did Martha confront Jesus?
oMartha believed that it was unfair for her to serve alone. She told Jesus to
make Mary help her with the work.
How did Jesus respond to Martha?
oJesus responded to Martha with loving correction. He understood Martha’s
intentions, but he helped her recognize that her work had begun to trouble
her and make her anxious.
oHe shifted Martha’s perspective, detailing the eternal value of Mary’s
intentional, personal listening.
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Bibliography
Hindson, Ed and Elmer L. Towns. Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction. Nashville, TN:
B&H Academic, 2017.
