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Name: Kevin Landers
Date: 4/23/2020
Section: BIBL-104
Studying the Gospels
Passage: Luke 10:38-42
Instructions:
For this assignment, you will be studying a story from the Gospels. More specifically, you will
be studying Jesus encounter with Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. You will use the template
below in order to complete a study of this passage. In your study, you will use the skills of
Observation, Interpretation, Correlation, and Application that you have become familiar with
through your reading in Everyday Bible Study.
I. Observation
A. I have read Luke 10:38-42 in both a formal translation (KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV, or CSB)
and a functional translation (NIV, NLT, or NCV). Highlight the correct answer. You will
find a copy of the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NLT in your myWSB Library.
o Yes
o No
B. Identify the basic elements of the story you are studying
1. Main characters: (List them)
a. Jesus and others traveling with him (disciples)
b. Martha
c. Mary
2. Plot: (50-100 words)
Jesus and his followers were invited into the home of Martha, to have a meal. Martha
prepared and served while Mary sat at the Lord’s feet to listen to Him. Martha was not
happy with Mary not helping with preparations and serving and expressed her
disappointment and worry to Jesus. Martha expected Jesus to correct Mary but rather He
told Martha she is worried with too many things, and that Mary has chosen the best part
and it would not be taken from her.
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3. Story structure: (50-100 words)
Jesus came into a village, as He did throughout His ministry, to see if any would
accept Him and listen to what He had to say as He preached His message of the gospel.
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home where Mary sat at His feet to listen to His words.
Martha was frustrated that Mary did not help with preparing and serving, she thought this
was wrong of Mary, but the Lord said this was good of Mary and told Martha she was
worried with too many things. Martha seems to have wanted everything perfect, to look
good, for Jesus. Martha had the best intentions, to serve Jesus with excellence, but did not
add the one thing that Jesus says is best.
C. 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:
a. Jesus and disciples
b. Mary
c. Martha
2. What:
a. Jesus being invited into Martha’s home
b. Martha worrying too much, even though wanting to serve the Lord well
c. Mary having good priorities, the “good part”
3. Where:
a. The village is unnamed in this passage
b. Bethany is the presumed village where this takes place (this is also where
Lazarus, Mary & Martha’s brother, lived)
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4. When:
a. According to other gospel books, this took place six days before Passover
5. Why:
a. To reflect on the intentions of our heart while we serve the Lord, asking if we
are serving with eyes on Jesus or if we are distracted and overloaded with
busyness
b. To reflect on serving at Jesus’ feet, not just serving to be serving
c. To reflect on the intent to do good but causing worries that are distracting and
cause frustration
d. To reflect on if we are really doing anything good and profitable for the
Kingdom or ultimately not
6. How:
a. Serving the Lord in effective ways, including the “only one thing necessary”,
as Jesus mentions in the passage
b. Being a good steward of our time with Jesus, at his feet, not merely serving
and preparing in various ways
c. While serving diligently with the best of intentions, maintaining a focus upon
Jesus to reduce frustrations, which come without the main focus
II. Interpretation
A. Determine the author’s main point. In 1-2 paragraphs (100-400 words) explain what you
think the author is trying to communicate in this passage. Remember to take into
consideration that this passage includes a conversation that Jesus has with Martha. Thus,
this passage is both showing and telling us something.
In this passage, Jesus was invited by Martha into her home, where Mary also lived.
Martha was excited to prepare and to serve Jesus and the disciples. While Martha was, what
seems to be, hurriedly preparing and serving, Mary was locked in on Jesus, at his feet, listening
to what He had to say, not just hearing Him. Mary was intentionally giving focus to what she
believed to be the main priority, Jesus and his teachings. Martha was frustrated that Mary was
not helping serve, so she expressed this to Jesus. We see where Martha was comfortable enough
to express her frustrations to Jesus, because she served Jesus with joy, knew Him, and felt
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compelled to ensure she served with excellence; while Mary stayed the course of the only good
thing that completes serving Jesus, according to Jesus, focused on His words and actions.
The author seems to be pointing out that there are a couple of types of followers of
Christ; ones who serve and are busy with good things for the Lord but who miss the main point
of being focused and spending time with the Lord, and ones who serve and do good things for
the Lord, but who remain focused on the Lord himself and His words, at his feet in worship and
glorifying Him.
B. Based on your answer above, write out one principle from this passage. You should be able
to express this principle in 1-3 sentences.
In this passage there is a key element vital to our relationship and servant attitudes to
Christ that has an association to the eternal impact to the Kingdom of God. The attribute of being
at the feet of Jesus, at the foot of the cross, and listening, being still, knowing God in full, can
have a great impact not merely serving but knowing when to be extensive in serving and how to
serve righteously, serving with excellence having the only good part, as Jesus said in the passage,
as front of mind and heart.
III. Correlation
A. How does this passage from Luke’s Gospel fit within the metanarrative of the Bible? State
what type of story you believe this to be (creation, fall, redemption, or new creation) and
explain why you believe this to be so. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200
words) in length.
In a holistic biblical perspective, this passage clearly reiterates the message and actions of
the gospel message of the Bible and the importance of Jesus dying for each of us. It appears this
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is centered around the story of the fall, where no matter what we try to do, not even a matter of
how Martha attempts to be, she shows to be a distraction to the entire scenario and the purpose of
Jesus in her home. As a born sinner, Martha doesn’t easily see main point of Jesus and His
words, rather she sees the need of serving, so she attempts to fill the gap and need presented. In a
manner of overall good intentions, Martha creates a distraction and believes her ways are the
right ways. In the fall of man, Adam and Eve also believed they knew best, hence the reason
Jesus was sent to live as man and die for man, to allow the only way back to God and glory. This
story is relevant to the fall, our ways are not God’s ways, and in our flesh we fail, even when we
attempt to do the right things and serve, we can miss the main objectives and be a distraction to
the gospel.
B. How does your principle from Luke 10:38-42 fit with the rest of the Scripture? This
principle is the one you have written out in 1-3 sentences in the Interpretation section. If
your principle is a true Biblical principle it will be reflected throughout the
Scriptures. Where is the principle discovered in this New Testament narrative found
elsewhere in the Scriptures? Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in
length.
The principle found in this passage is reflected throughout scripture, specifically in
Ephesians where good works are discussed. The good works, servanthood duties, and even the
characteristics of Christ we take on as we grow in our faith are fruits of righteousness. Jesus
indicates that there comes a time when the works we perform, even for His Kingdom, can be a
distraction as previously mentioned. Ephesians 2 speaks to our works not being what saves us,
this is huge, and often missed by many. We also have works, or gifts, special talents and insights
that God gives each of us and we just have to learn how to walk in them, even if we don’t know
them today, we need to pray and seek God’s answer on them and how to use them, but never
being a distraction and never turning our focus away from Jesus.
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C. How does this passage from Luke’s Gospel reflect the person and work of Jesus Christ?
State and explain at least one way that the principle of this passage identifies something
of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Your explanation should be 1 paragraph (100-200
words) in length.
In this passage Martha appears to be her own worst enemy, being distracted and
frustrated while attempting to do good, ultimately Satan’s lies playing into Martha’s mind.
Martha is greatly worried over being perfect it seems, with all of the intentions being good, there
is distraction and ungratefulness, namely the ungratefulness of Jesus being present and the
opportunity Martha has to be with Jesus and listen to Him. Jesus tells us to come, who are
burdened, who are worried and labored, that He will give us rest (Matt. 11:28). The Lord’s work
and character is shown here in mighty ways. Jesus is caring, forgiving, understanding, and leads
us to where He needs us to be to represent Him well in our walks. He is very loving as He
responds to Martha to say that Mary is right in her decision to focus on the only good thing,
Jesus and His words. Jesus, the forerunner, wants faith and trust in Him to be priority, nothing
else matters, and as Deuteronomy speaks to, obedience is greater than sacrifice. Jesus also shows
a selfless side here, not concerned with eating food or a perfect presentation.
IV. Application
What points of application can be made using the Four Questions for Application? State and
explain 1 point of application for each of these four questions. Your explanation for each of
these points should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
A. The question of duty
The duty in the passage is heavily steered toward Martha’s actions of hospitality and
serving, serving the Lord and disciples in her home. The works of Martha are with good
intentions, she is serving the Lord, but her main distraction and frustrations with Mary are
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evident as she expresses this to Jesus asking Him about Mary’s decision to not help serve.
Martha, with confidence in Jesus and comfort of coming to Him with a need, finds that Jesus
agrees with Mary’s chosen path, the better path, of being at His feet and listening to His
teachings. We are to be still, listen, and obey Jesus’ teachings, though we will not be perfect, we
are urged to focus on the most important thing and not be distracted or have frustrations building
as we serve.
B. The question of character
The attributes of Mary and Martha are evident in this passage, both having the heart to
serve the Lord, just serving in different ways. Martha is focused on the hospitality she is offering
to Jesus and the disciples, serving them, and making sure they are comfortable, making sure they
have what they need. Martha is also bold enough to speak up for a concern she has, this is a
particularly good quality also and speaks to accountability. Mary on the other hand is displaying
her faith in full toward Jesus, doing the one and only good thing according to Jesus in this
passage, being focused on His teachings, wanting to learn and grow. Diving into God’s word,
listening and watching for answers we might have, and intentionally spending time with Jesus is
key to build our faith, because faith comes from hearing as the book of Romans speaks to.
C. The question of goals
It is good to have objectives in life, personally, spiritually, and professionally. What we
believe is what we will live out, the focus and intentions of our heart will be what we show and
speak to others. We should align with God’s Word daily to display actions, reactions, speech, and
thought according to things above, not the things on earth (Colossians 3:2), and we will show
fruit of our faith and frankly will love in actions as our goals and objectives align with God’s. A
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believer should be a true follower of Christ, not merely a Christian by label, but in action and
truth, according to God’s way, not our way. We should enjoy God.
D. The question of discernment
Discernment is a gift for many believers, it is directly from God and should be used for
his glory. Jesus confirms in this passage that Mary had great discernment of the right path to
choose, deciding to do the rightest thing, the only good part. Jesus, and His ever so perfect
discernment, eases Martha into the conversation and expresses her worrying is to much, and to
share that Mary did choose right and to point out that Mary is a good example of what obedience
looks like. Martha’s frustrations is an image of how our discernment can lack when we allow
blinds to be put over our eyes and hearts when we are too focused on the unnecessary things that
ultimately do not matter eternally, even though they are good things. The lies of Satan and his
demons can blind us if our guard and armor is not up to par if we are not on the alert as 1
Corinthians 16:13 tells us to be. Our discernment should grow and be more actively engaged in
our alertness the more we pause to spend time with Jesus and God’s word. Prayer. Prayer is key.
