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Luke 10 · a question people ask

Jesus said that Mary "has chosen the good part" (10:42). Was Martha wrong to serve?

In the text

Luke gives what Martha said and what Jesus answered, and no more. He says that Martha "received him into her house" (10:38) and "was distracted with much serving" (10:40). She said, "Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me." (10:40). Jesus answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her." (10:41-42). Luke doesn't tell what Martha said or did next. These notes add nothing to what Jesus said to her, and say nothing of her beyond these verses.

The verses

“As they went on their way, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me.” Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:38-42 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Luke 10

Luke 10: Go and do likewise

The lawyer asked, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus answered with a story and asked him which of the three "seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers". From "what shall I do" to "Do this", "He who showed mercy" and "Go and do likewise", the Greek has one verb behind do and showed.

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Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions