Luke 10:38-42 - Mary and Martha

The one main point of this short passage (be Jesus' disciple, learn from him, don't be distracted from listening to Jesus' word, even by good things / Christian service) seems so clear and vivid that sermon headings are hardly necessary, but for those who like them:

William Taylor, St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, 11 January 2015, Knowing God (6pm), The only thing that matters

http://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/media-library/src/talk/54174/title/the-only-thing-that-matters

(1) Luke’s comments on Mary and Martha (vv38-40)

(2) Martha’s complaint (v40)

  

(3) Jesus’ correction (vv41-42)

Summary / application:

Why listen to Jesus? 

What? Listening to his words in Scripture

  

How? Find a way!

All Souls’, Langham Place website, Richard Bewes, Having the right priorities, C077 Right on to Glory (Travelling With Jesus in Luke 10-11), 16/07/1995

  

(1) We are not first of all workers, but disciples

  

(2) We focus not on many things but on the one thing

 

(3) We model ourselves not on each other but on Christ

 And also for your edification, a useful summary from Darrell L. Bock's Baker Exegetical commentary on the New Testament: 

“The key image is of the disciple at Jesus’ feet listening to his word. Labor at the expense of Jesus’ word is not a good choice. The disciple is to make sitting at Jesus’ feet a priority. Jesus’ rebuke is not of Martha’s action per se, but of action taken at the expense of sitting and listening to God’s word and her attitude towards another serving in a different way. It is better to be a listening disciple than an immaculate host.” (p1039)