Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

In the story of Mary and Martha, we see three hearts.

1. A Chaotic Heart

Luke 10:40

But Martha was distracted with much serving.

1 Peter 4:9

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Luke 10:40

“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?”

Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first and we lose both first and second things. (C.S. Lewis)

2. A Calm Heart

Luke 10:42

“… But one thing is necessary …”

Amid all life’s duties and necessities there is one supreme necessity which must always be given priority, and which, if circumstances compel us to choose, must be chosen to the exclusion of all others. That supreme necessity is to sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to his word. It must be so. If there is a Creator at all, and that Creator is prepared to visit us and speak to us as in his incarnation he visited and spoke to Martha and Mary, then obviously it is our first duty as his creatures, as it ought to be our highest pleasure, to sit at his feet and listen to what he says. (David Gooding)

Luke 10:40

“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.”

Luke 10:41

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.”

3. Jesus Heart

Luke 10:42

“… Mary has chosen the good portion …”

Luke 10:41

“Martha, Martha…you are anxious and troubled about many things,”