BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: MARTHA & MARY 2
Biblical Critique: Martha and Mary
1111111Luke provides insight into the two sisters, Martha and Mary, approach in preparation for
their guest Jesus's arrival in chapter 10, verses 38-42. This passage highlights that even with the
best intentions, conflict can quickly arise when focus is taken off the priorities in one's life and
functioning around the busyness of it. This paper will show that Martha's conflict was not with
her sister but within herself, like so many today, simply by taking her eyes off Jesus and focusing
on daily works. Losing sight of Jesus and a high focus on service is not uncommon today; when
people become religiously busy, it is easy to become spiritually asleep without even realizing it;
when this occurs, an individual's heart condition can quickly begin to stir up conflict within
themselves. Martha goes to Jesus with her complaint just as His disciples come to Him today for
guidance and direction.
Mary, although she looks to be lazy in the eyes of her sister, has not only served but was
able to do it still and sit at the feet of Jesus; the Psalmist reminds us in the scripture, "One thing I
have asked from the1Lord, that I shall seek: That I may1dwell in the house of the1Lord1all the
days of my life, To behold1the1beauty of the1Lord And to1meditate in His temple" (New
American Standard Version, 1960/2020, Psalm 27:4).
Read
Fact Verses
1.Jesus entered a village Luke 10:38
2. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home Luke 10:38
3.Mary was Martha’s sister Luke 10:39
4.Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet Luke 10:39
5.Mary was listening to the Lord’s word Luke 10:39
6.Martha was distracted due to all her Luke 10:40
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: MARTHA & MARY 3
preparations
7.Martha went to complain to Jesus about her
sister Mary.
Luke 10:40
8.Mary left Martha serving by herself. Luke 10:40
9. The Lord answered Martha. Luke 10:41
10.The Lord told Martha she is distracted by
many things.
Luke 10:41
11. The Lord told Martha there is only one
necessary thing to worry about.
Luke 10:42
12: Mary has chosen the good part. Luke 10:42
13: What Mary chose to do cannot be taken
from her.
Luke 10:42
Reflect
What do you see in the passage that relates
to God’s character, man’s character, or
Jesus?
Verses
God’s character Relational: God is willing to come in
when we are willing to invite Him in our
lives.
Graceful: His desire is to seek Him first
and serve second but understands the
weakness of His children.
Everlasting: Cannot be taken away
Luke 10:38
Luke 10:40-41
Luke 10:41
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: MARTHA & MARY 4
Man’s character Relational
Listens
Learner
Distracted
Servant
Complains
Conflict
Help seeking
Luke 10:38
Luke 10:39
Luke 10:39
Luke 10:40
Luke 10:40
Luke 10:40
Luke 10:40
Luke 10:40
Jesus Intimate: Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus,
His desire for us to be close to Him.
Desires relationship: comes to the house
of His followers.
Loving & Compassion: Redirects Martha
rather than rebukes her.
Listens with patience: Heard Martha in
her frustration.
Mediator: Martha goes to Him with her
conflict and wants Him to intercede
Luke 10:39
Luke 10:39-40
Luke 10:41
Luke 10:41-42
Luke 10:41-42
Respond
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: MARTHA & MARY 5
This passage helps bring to light the current state of society today. God has sent His only
begotten son into the world so that His children may have a relationship restored with Him;
however, the world has been able to manipulate the truth and draw the eyes of many off Christ
and onto themselves (New American Standard Version, 1960/2020, John 3:16). All through life
people are asked important questions, what do you want to do for a living, will you marry me, do
you want to have children but the most important question that everyone is society has to answer
is one that the disciples had to answer "But who do you1say that I am" (New American Standard
Version, 1960/2020, Matthew 16:15)? The answer to that question will solidify for many in the
world whether they are a Mary or a Martha because those who know who Jesus will value the
relationship and will sit at His feet more than the things of the world that often are obtained
through works.
1111111Mary renders much honor to God when she is willing to sit at His feet in closeness and
listen to His word and teaching. In contrast, Martha is not focused on Jesus but builds up
resentment towards her sister and goes to Jesus for Him to correct her. It is like the world and,
unfortunately, the ordinary state of the Church today to have taken their eyes off Jesus while
working on their agenda and only coming back when it is their need to fulfill a laundry list of
requests to Jesus. Relationship with Jesus requires submission to His authority and spending time
at His feet where1true1learning can occur. The world has given a false ideology that man can get
to where he wants to be, work harder, and1do more, but the truth is there are times when one
needs to be still and know that He is God, He is in control, and at His feet is the best place to be
(New American Standard Version, 1960/2020, Psalm 46:10).
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: MARTHA & MARY 6
One of the greatest deceptions in my life that the enemy has been able to use has been
time management. When I was practicing my sinful ways, I realized how my eyes were not on
Jesus; in fact, to be truthful, I really did not know Jesus in application. The area that I struggled
in was time management, I would soon find out that I was serving in Church, helping in
ministries, working hard at my job, and1spending time with my family, at the current time, I was
at Liberty for my graduate program for Christian Ministry and all the time the Lord one day said,
you forgot about me. There was an allusion that because I was not running the streets, I was in
Church, money in the bank, serving in ministry and in Liberty's graduate program I was doing
good, but I found out that I was just as far away from the Lord, I was a Martha. My life had
become filled with busy activities, and my wife was okay because if I were busy, I would not run
in the streets; fast forward, and now I have learned that being busy cannot keep me from myself.
It is Christ alone who keeps me where I am today in my life. Working on five years now and
sitting at the Lord's feet, I have been able to grow in the Lord and see such a difference in what it
is like to know Christ; however, a downfall is that I can still get caught up in being busy, I have
just recently added serving as the temporary athletic director on top of being the vice principal
and I have noticed that it does have an effect on my time with the Lord. The Lord has been
patient and gentle, as we see in this passage, drawing me back and reminding me that He is
forever and the things I am working for here can be gone tomorrow.1
1111111This passage relates to conflict resolution by demonstrating the use of a mediator during
the building conflict within Martha. In this passage, Jesus could identify that the actual conflict
was not Mary but was within Martha herself. The approach Martha took favors using a mediator
to help facilitate the conversation of the evolving conflict. Often when there is conflict or
dissension building up natural instruct tells a person to turn away from it (Harris, 2022). Martha
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: MARTHA & MARY 7
came to Jesus, pointing out why Mary was wrong for doing what she was doing. She used a
competing approach by highlighting not what she had already done but what she was doing,
sitting at His feet (Barsky, 2017). Barsky (2017) identifies conflict transformation as the process
that seeks to alter how people deal with conflict, in many ways helping them shift from their
current state, such as competition, to collaboration (as stated by Berghof Foundation, 2011). This
further points to how Jesus resolved the conflict by showing Martha that this was a spiritual
conflict within herself and not a conflict that should have taken place with her sister, whom Jesus
found to be doing what was right. A large part of being able to resolve conflict is being open and
a teachable person and this was that moment for Martha (Krol, 2015). This passage helps put into
perspective that, at times, the conflict is not with another party but within oneself.1
Conclusion
Conflict will always continue, especially when the sight of the world is on everything
else but Jesus. Even in the Christian community this passage demonstrates how quickly priorities
can switch from being at the feet of Jesus to our works. The most important thing is that Martha
went to Jesus, and He was able to help her see the spiritual ramifications of her actions. We, too,
can go to Jesus as our mediator between us and the Father. Jesus said definitively, "I am the way,
and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me," and we are unable to
resolve the conflict of our sinful nature in our lives, which is incongruent with the Holiness of
the Lord without Jesus mediating for us through intercession (New American Standard Version,
1960/2020, John 14:6).
BIBLICAL CRITIQUE: MARTHA & MARY 8
References
Barsky, A. E. (2017). Conflict resolution for the helping professions: Negotiation, mediation,
advocacy, facilitation, and restorative justice (Third ed.). Oxford University Press.
Harris, A. M. (2022). Don’t keep your distance! Why physical presence matters for hurting
Christians. Christian Living.https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/keep-distance-
presence-matters/
Krol, P. (2015). 7 steps to conflict resolution. Christian Living.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/7-steps-to-conflict-resolution/
New American Standard Bible. (2020). New American Standard Bible Online.
https://www.bible.com/versions/100-nasb-new-american-standard-bible/ (Original work
published 1960)
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