Focused Passage

Luke 10:38-42

The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen

Luke moves from kingdom mission in the harvest field to judgment against unresponsive cities, from rejoicing over authority to rejoicing over heavenly belonging, from divine revelation to humble reception, from legal questioning to costly mercy, and from anxious service to the better portion of listening to Jesus.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

38 As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message.

40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

42 But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 38

Original words

As δὲ G1161 Conjunction . . . Ἐν G1722 Preposition they αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular traveled along πορεύεσθαι G4198 Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive [Jesus] αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular entered εἰσῆλθεν G1525 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition a τινά G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular village κώμην G2968 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [where] δέ G1161 Conjunction a τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular woman γυνὴ G1135 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular named ὀνόματι G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular Martha Μάρθα G3136 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular welcomed ὑπεδέξατο G5264 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular into 〈εἰς G1519 Preposition [her] τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular home οἰκίαν〉 G3614 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 39

Original words

She τῇδε G3592 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction had ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a sister ἀδελφὴ G79 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular named καλουμένη G2564 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular Mary Μαριάμ G3137 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular who G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction sat παρακαθεσθεῖσα G3869 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular at πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural vvv τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Lord’s Κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural listening to ἤκουεν G191 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular message λόγον G3056 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 40

Original words

But δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular Martha Μάρθα G3136 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular was distracted περιεσπᾶτο G4049 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular by all the περὶ G4012 Preposition . . . πολλὴν G4183 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular preparations [to be made] διακονίαν G1248 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction She came to [Jesus] ἐπιστᾶσα G2186 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Feminine Singular [and] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb do You not care μέλει G3199 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular sister ἀδελφή G79 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular has left κατέλειπεν G2641 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular to serve διακονεῖν G1247 Verb - Present Infinitive Active alone μόνην G3441 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular - οὖν G3767 Conjunction Tell εἰπὲ* G2036 Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular her αὐτῇ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction help συναντιλάβηται G4878 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 41

Original words

Martha Μάρθα G3136 Noun - Vocative Feminine Singular Martha Μάρθα G3136 Noun - Vocative Feminine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Ἀποκριθεὶς G611 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular - εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῇ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular you are worried μεριμνᾷς G3309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction upset θορυβάζῃ G2350 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular about περὶ G4012 Preposition many things πολλά G4183 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 42

Original words

But δέ G1161 Conjunction only G2228 Conjunction one ἑνός G1520 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular thing ὀλίγων G3641 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular necessary χρεία G5532 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular - γὰρ G1063 Conjunction Mary Μαριὰμ G3137 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular has chosen ἐξελέξατο G1586 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular good ἀγαθὴν G18 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular portion μερίδα G3310 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [and it] ἥτις G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb will not be taken away from ἀφαιρεθήσεται G851 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular her αὐτῆς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.