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Name:XXXXXXXX
Date:09/09/09
Section: 09
New Testament Bible Study Assignment
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 belowin 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.
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 WORDsearch Library. I would suggest the NASB, ESV, or CSB for your formal translation and the NLT for your functional translation. These four translations are available in your WORDsearch library.)
Jesus, Mary, and Martha
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 towork 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.
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:Jesuscommends Mary for resting at his feet and spending time with him while Martha worked for him by completing acts of service.
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.”
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 sheaimed 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.
This passage reveals the anxiety that results from improper priorities. Martha shows hospitality to Jesus and his disciples by welcoming them into her house, and she promptly busies herself with serving. It is important to note that this passage does not devalue service. In Mark 10:43-45, Jesus says, “But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (ESV). To conclude that the story of Mary and Martha discounts the importance of service contradicts Jesus’ own teaching. Rather, the passage demonstrates the fault in Martha’s disproportionate desires. Martha makes serving Jesus more important than sitting at his feet and listening to his teaching. Her misplaced priorities distract her and fill her with anxiety. Jesus rebukes Martha’s anxious attitude, reorienting her desires by applauding Mary’s willingness to rest at his feet. Jesus explicitly tells Martha not to be worried or upset, insisting that only one thing matters—resting in his presence. Additionally, he subtly shows Martha that her anxiety stems from improper priorities; she made her work for Jesus more important than spending time with Jesus.
Jesus also reveals the eternal value of resting in his presence. In Luke 10:42, Jesus says, “But one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (ESV, emphasis added). Martha’s service will end. Jesus and his disciples will eventually leave the village of Bethany; however, Jesus notes that Mary’s portion will never be taken away from her. The spiritual transformation that comes from being in the presence of Jesus and learning from him will not fade away.
Jesus commends service and hospitality, but he warns against making service more important than simply being in his presence. Anxiety results from improper priorities while resting in the presence of Jesus and listening to his teaching produces spiritual transformation that will not be taken away.
III. Correlation
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 explanationshould be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
The story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42 resembles the redemptive theme of the Bible’s metanarrative. Mary and Martha each act differently in the presence of Jesus. Martha wants to honor Jesus and demonstrate her love for him through acts of service; however, work distracts her from resting in Jesus’ presence. After hearing Martha’s complaint and request for Mary’s aid in service, Jesus reminds Martha that “one thing is necessary” (v. 42). Jesus uses Mary as an example, noting that she has chosen “the good portion” (v. 42) by sitting at his feet. These contrasting responses to Jesus typify the redemptive nature of the Bible. The redemptive act of the metanarrative occurs ultimately in the sinless life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Through his work on the cross, Jesus breaks the curse of sin and offers salvation to those who trust in Him. Thus, redemption does not depend on the faithfulness and good works of humanity. Rather, redemption rests in the perfect faithfulness of Christ. In this story, Jesus denies the need for Martha to please him with her good works and service. He recognizes Mary’s exemplary response to his presence – humility and rest at his feet.
principle is the one you havewritten 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.
In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus recognizes Martha’s anxiety, warning her not to make duty more important than God Himself. A similar truth appears in Matthew 12. On the Sabbath, Jesus’ disciples pluck grain to eat, and the Pharisees accuse the disciples of breaking the Law. Jesus rebukes the Pharisees in Matthew 12:5-8, saying, “Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath” (ESV). Jesus references Hosea 6:6, which reads, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Jesus uses Hosea’s writings to reorient the Pharisees’ priorities, insisting that intimacy with God is more important than Sabbath observance and service of the law. Similarly, Jesus teaches Martha not to let service distract her from sitting at his feet like Mary, who showed Jesus “steadfast love” and grew in “knowledge of God” as she listened to his teaching.
State and explain at least one way that the principle of this passage identifies something of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Your explanationshould be1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
The story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42 reflects the salvific work of Jesus Christ.
Martha focuses on service, and she becomes anxious and troubled; however, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to his teaching, warranting Jesus’ commendation. This tension between work and rest translates to the act of redemption in the Bible’s metanarrative. Martha’s anxiety stemming from extensive focus on her works reflects the futility of attempting to earn salvation. In contrast, Mary’s humble rest at Jesus’ feet relates to the posture of trust in the sufficiency of Christ that leads to salvation. It is impossible for sinful humans to work their way to God with good deeds and acts of service. Salvation rests in the faithfulness of Christ, not the faithfulness of humanity. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (ESV). This passage insists that salvation is not accomplished through humanity’s works; rather, it is a gift from God that comes through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Whatpoints of application can be made using the Four Questions for Application? State and explain1 point of application for each of thesefour questions. Your explanation for each of these points should be 1 paragraph (100-200 words) in length.
In Luke 10:38-42, Martha exemplified the danger of duty-driven service. The same obsession with accomplishments and “getting things done” that took Martha’s eyes off of Jesus pervades today’s culture. In obedient response to the message of this story, a Christian should fight the competitive, productivity-based tendencies of the human heart. Attempting to find satisfaction in her own accomplishments, Martha made serving Jesus more important than being in communion with the Lord himself. Her misplaced priorities failed to provide rest or peace; instead, Martha felt anxious. She even acted impatiently towards Mary, who wisely rejected a duty-driven mentality. Mary fought Martha’s obsession with productivity, and she allowed Jesus to teach her. Likewise, Christians today must prioritize rest in the presence of Jesus, giving God opportunities to speak through His Word. To a worldly culture that glorifies efficiency, setting aside time to pray, study Scripture, worship, and simply rest in the presence of God seems awfully wasteful. Regardless, Christians must labor counterculturally, finding time to rest and enjoy the riches of God’s mercy and love. Service completed out of obligation leads to dissatisfaction while love-driven service will result from intimately knowing the One who offers unending peace, grace, and joy.
This story challenges Christians to possess peace and rest in the place of anxiety. Jesus did not reject Martha’s desire to serve; rather, he disapproved of her anxiety and worry. He contrasted Martha with Mary, who found peace as she sat at the Lord’s feet to hear his teaching. Jesus’ rejection of anxiety appears prevalently throughout Scripture. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus instructed his followers not to be anxious about their lives and called them to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (v. 33a ESV). Likewise, the apostle Paul instructed the Christians in Philippi: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 ESV). Jesus and the apostle Paul insisted that rest should trump worldly obligations as Christians cultivate intimacy with God. In the sanctifying work of Christ through the Holy Spirit, Christians will cultivate peace and rest. The chains of duty that troubled Martha will progressively fall off through the work of the Holy Spirit. Christians will learn to rest in the sufficiency of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, and peace will rule their hearts.
The message of Luke 10:38-42 indicates that prioritizing rest in God’s presencewill reorient Christians’ desires and motivate genuinely loving service. Jesus did not disregard service entirely, for doing so would have contradicted his other teachings (e.g. Mark 10:43-45). Rather, Jesus devalued duty-driven service that attempted to earn satisfaction based on works. He rejected Martha’s anxiety that resulted from a fixation withproductivity. In contrast, Jesus commended Mary for maintaining proper priorities as she sat before the Lord humbly. Learning from this passage, Christians should prioritize communion with God: learning from Him and resting in His presence. As Christians spend time with God and learn how much their Heavenly Father loves them, genuine service will result. Christians will serve with selfless love; they will not serve out of obligation in order to earn God’s affection or approval. In the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the author writes, “Jesus’ gentle rebuke serves as a perpetual reminder not tomajor on minor matters.Jesus must not be neglected in the name of service” (Butler). Ultimately, the passage challenges Christians to evaluate their goals, motivating them to prioritize communion with God and serve only with the genuine love that comes from doing so.
In Mark 10:43b-45, Jesus says, “But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (ESV). Meanwhile, in Luke 10:38-42, Jesus challenged Martha’s obsession with service. Juxtaposed, the two passages demonstrate that Jesus calls us to glorify the Lord both through service and rest in His presence; however, Jesus does not give Christians a rulebook to follow as they strive to obey both commands. Thus, discernment as it relates to the story of Mary and Martha involves learning when to work and when to rest. Likewise, the passage teaches Christians that discernment often deals with their motivations for obedience. Jesus did not condemn Martha for serving – He disapproved of the anxiety that resulted when Martha made productivity her first priority. As Christians aim to see the world as God sees it, they begin to evaluate their motivations and learn how to balance service and rest, buoyed by the grace of God as the Holy Spirit sanctifies them.
Works Cited
Hindson, Ed and Elmer L. Towns. Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2017.
Butler, Trent C. “Martha.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, edited by Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England, Steve Bond, and E. Ray Clendenen. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003.
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