The Good Choice of Jesus(Luke 10:38–42)

누가복음(Luke) 10:38-42)

누가복음(Luke) 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. \ 저희가 길 갈 때에 예수께서 한 촌에 들어가시매 마르다라 이름하는 한 여자가 자기 집으로 영접하더라

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. \ 그에게 마리아라 하는 동생이 있어 주의 발아래 앉아 그의 말씀을 듣더니

40 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.” \ 마르다는 준비하는 일이 많아 마음이 분주한지라 예수께 나아가 가로되 주여 내 동생이 나 혼자 일하게 두는 것을 생각지 아니하시나이까 저를 명하사 나를 도와주라 하소서

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, \ 주께서 대답하여 가라사대 마르다야 마르다야 네가 많은 일로 염려하고 근심하나

42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” \ 그러나 몇 가지만 하든지 혹 한 가지만이라도 족하니라 마리아는 이 좋은 편을 택하였으니 빼앗기지 아니하리라 하시니라

Text: Luke 10:38–42
Title: The Good Choice of Jesus

Sometimes our passion and hard work can actually get in the way of serving God and gaining true benefit for our soul. They can become a trap, making us angry, restless, and stuck in our own thoughts. When that happens, we lose flexibility in our thinking.

Today’s passage tells us about Martha and Mary.
They were from the same family, both women, yet we see many differences in them. Martha seemed more outgoing, while Mary appeared quieter. But the focus is not on their personalities. The real focus is on the choices they made, and how Jesus looked at those choices. Through this story, we want to share God’s grace.

When Jesus was traveling, a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. The Bible tells us that Martha had a sister, Mary. Martha was busy preparing food, but Mary sat near Jesus and listened to His teaching.

Martha came to Jesus and asked Him to tell Mary to help with the food preparation.
But Jesus answered, “Mary has chosen what is better.”

This story may sound a little surprising to us. But if we think carefully about the situation back then, we can understand more deeply. Why did Jesus say Mary made a good choice? What is the key point here?

First, the key is that there was very little time to hear Jesus’ words.
The message of Jesus was the most important thing. Eating food happens every single day. It is not very special. Martha probably wanted to prepare a special meal for Jesus, and the guests were probably more than just one or two people. Her motive was good, and she believed it was for Jesus.
But listening to Jesus’ words up close was also a very special opportunity. That’s why Jesus said Mary had made a good choice. We can see what was in Jesus’ heart: He wanted His words to be heard and received.

Second, in this story we see that Jesus respects people’s choices.
Jesus said Mary chose the good part. That means Mary had to think about it—should she help her sister, or should she listen to Jesus? She decided not to help Martha, but instead to sit at Jesus’ feet.

This does not mean Martha’s choice was bad. Jesus also respected her choice. Notice, He did not tell Martha, “Stop cooking and listen first.” Jesus did not force her. He respected both.
The real problem was that Martha became upset with her own choice, lost flexibility in her mind, and then tried to control Mary’s choice.

She was so busy that she even asked the guest—Jesus Himself—to order her sister around. On the surface, it looks like Mary was being selfish, but actually Martha was being unfair. She embarrassed Mary and even made Jesus uncomfortable. She tried to use Jesus’ authority to control her sister. If Mary had obeyed only because of Jesus’ authority, her free choice would have been crushed. If Martha had just asked Mary directly, and allowed her to decide, it might have been better.

Basically, God respects people’s choices. He honors good choices, but even when people choose wrongly, sometimes He still allows it.

We see this also in the story of the Prodigal Son. The younger son made a shameful, selfish request, but the good father still let him go. Because of God’s grace, we have freedom too—though of course, with that freedom comes responsibility.

So when someone chooses to set aside other things and worship on Sunday, Jesus will say, “That is a good choice.” When someone is busy with other tasks—even tasks they believe are “for God”—that may be allowed, but it is not better than meeting and fellowshipping with Jesus.

If we lose the core because of side issues, that is foolishness.
We see examples of this all around us.

• Some people carefully keep small religious rules like tithing, but ignore weightier matters like justice, mercy, and faithfulness. That is missing the heart of God’s law.
• The Titanic is another example. The ship was built with luxury rooms and fine decoration, but they neglected lifeboats. That led to disaster.
• Sometimes we spend all our energy decorating a website with fonts and design, but neglect the real content and functions.
  This happens when the means become more important than the true purpose.

Jesus said life is more than clothing. Our work to survive is important, but how we live—our purpose and our choices—matters more.

The reason God brought Israel out of Egypt was so they could freely worship Him. The reason He gave the Sabbath was so people could rest, think of God, and plan their lives with Him.

As a preacher, I can understand Jesus’ heart in this story. In church, if people cannot hear God’s word because the meal is more important, it is frustrating. Wouldn’t it be better to prepare earlier, and then join the worship together? Or, to hear the teaching first, and then prepare the meal afterward?

Worship time is special. It cannot be treated lightly. It is more important than other tasks, more important than other thoughts.
So I bless you in the Lord: may we all be people who choose to focus on God, to listen to His Word, and to live by that good choice. – amen –