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Luke 10

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.

And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.

He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

What does Luke 10:41 mean?

Explanation

Luke 10:41 is a verse from the Christian New Testament where Jesus is addressing Martha, one of the two sisters who welcomed Him into their home.

This interaction occurs in the context of Jesus visiting the sisters, where Martha is preoccupied with serving and managing the duties of hosting, while her sister, Mary, chooses to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teachings.

In saying "Martha, Martha," Jesus gently rebukes her for being "careful and troubled about many things," meaning that she is overly anxious and concerned about the preparations and material aspects of hospitality.

The deeper message here is about prioritizing spiritual nourishment over worldly concerns.

While service and hospitality are commendable, they should not distract from what Jesus considers the "one thing needful," which is to listen to His word and teachings.

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Historical Context

The passage is part of the Gospel of Luke which was written around 60-90 AD for a predominantly Gentile audience.

The cultural expectations of the time placed importance on hospitality, with women being responsible for household tasks. Martha's role was typical of women of that period who were tasked to ensure the comfort of guests. This scene takes place in the village of Bethany, which is near Jerusalem.

It is considered a real-life illustration of the tension between active service and quiet contemplation, a debate relevant in both Jewish and early Christian traditions.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives offer various insights on this verse:

Traditional: Emphasizes the primacy of spiritual devotion over being overly absorbed with earthly duties.
Feminist: Views the passage through the lens of gender roles, suggesting that Jesus' message was radical for its time as it implied women could also be disciples, learning from him directly.
Liberation Theology: May interpret the verse as a call to choose 'the better part,' which could mean liberating oneself from the overemphasis on material concerns and focusing on the liberation Christ offers.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in daily life to emphasize the importance of spiritual growth over excessive worry about material concerns.

It can serve as a reminder to not let the busyness of life take precedence over times of reflection, prayer, and engaging with spiritual teachings.

Practically, allocating time for spiritual activities amidst daily tasks can be a way to incorporate this teaching.

Cross-References

Matthew 6:25-34: Discourses on the futility of worry and the encouragement to seek first the kingdom of God.
Philippians 4:6-7: Advises against being anxious and recommends prayer and thanksgiving as the antidote.
1 Peter 5:7: Encourages casting all anxieties on God because He cares for you.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word "careful" translates to "μεριμνᾷς" (merimnas) which means to be anxious or overly concerned, while "troubled" translates to "θορυβάζῃ" (thorybazei) indicating disturbance or inner turmoil.

The repetition of Martha's name can be a rhetorical device used to show affection and emphasis.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The choice between action and contemplation is a common theme across various religions and philosophies.

In Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita discusses the tension between duty (Dharma) and spiritual practice (Yoga).

Buddhism also emphasizes mindfulness and being present over worldly distractions.

The story of Martha and Mary could be compared with such teachings, which also value inner peace and spiritual focus.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychology and neuroscience may view the verse as touching upon the effects of stress and anxiety on well-being.

From a scientific perspective, the verse might be seen as an early acknowledgment of the need for balance between work and relaxation, and the importance of mindfulness and reflective practices for mental health.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse offer varied interpretations:

Classic commentaries often highlight the lesson of prioritizing spiritual devotion and the word of Jesus over mundane tasks and concerns.

For instance, John Calvin speaks of the necessity of the "one thing needful."

Contemporary scholars like N.T.

Wright might focus on Jesus' inclusive approach, offering the same discipleship to Martha as to Mary, despite cultural gender roles.

Others may delve into the psychological aspects, seeing Jesus' words as addressing the human tendency to be distracted and anxious about many things rather than finding peace in faith and presence.

Luke 10

Luke 10

What does Luke 10:41 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 10:41 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?