What can we learn from Mary and Martha?

from the old testament

• Although the accounts of Mary and Martha are not recorded in the Old Testament, they help lay the foundation for what we can learn from them. For example, it shows us that God values both faithful service and a heart that delights in His presence. Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly shows that His people are called not only to do things for Him but to know Him, trust Him, and worship Him. Israel was commanded to serve God through sacrifices, obedience, and acts of worship, but God also consistently warned against outward actions that were disconnected from a devoted heart (1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 29:13). The story of Mary and Martha reminds us of this same truth: activity for God is important, but our service must flow from a relationship with God.
• God desires that His people prioritize knowing Him over being consumed by responsibilities. The Old Testament repeatedly calls God’s people to seek Him above all else. Psalm 27:4 describes David’s greatest desire as dwelling in God’s presence and seeking Him, while Jeremiah 9:23–24 teaches that the greatest pursuit is knowing and understanding the Lord. Martha’s struggle was not that she served Jesus but that her service became disconnected from being with Jesus. Like many Old Testament believers who became distracted by religious activity without true devotion, we can also become so focused on doing things for God that we neglect the heart behind it.
• God’s people are called to remember that He is their ultimate source of satisfaction and provision. Throughout Israel’s history, God repeatedly taught His people that their greatest need was not merely physical provision but dependence on Him. In the wilderness, God provided manna to teach Israel that “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Martha was concerned with preparing a meal for Jesus, but Mary understood that Jesus Himself was the greater gift. Her posture reflects the Old Testament lesson that God Himself—not merely what He provides—is the true source of life.
• The Old Testament presents many examples of people who responded to God’s presence by listening and surrendering. Samuel’s response to God’s call was, “Speak, LORD, for your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:9–10). Moses encountered God at the burning bush by removing his sandals and recognizing he was standing on holy ground (Exodus 3:5). Mary’s posture at Jesus’ feet reflects this same humility: before we can faithfully serve God, we must first listen to Him and recognize His authority.
• Many Old Testament examples show that even good things can become sinful when they take the place of God. Israel’s desire for a king was not wrong because leadership was unnecessary, but because they wanted a king to replace their trust in God (1 Samuel 8:7). Similarly, work, ministry, relationships, and responsibilities are good gifts from God, but they become harmful when they consume our attention and crowd out devotion to Him.
• The Old Testament repeatedly contrasts those who pursue God’s approval with those who seek human recognition. Saul cared more about public reputation than obedience (1 Samuel 15:24–30), while David sought to honor God above himself (Acts 13:22). Mary’s choice to sit at Jesus’ feet demonstrates a heart focused not on being noticed for what she did but on receiving from Christ. The greatest reward is not in being known for our accomplishments but in knowing the Lord.

from the new testament

• The clearest lesson from Mary and Martha comes from Luke 10:38–42. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and served Him, but she became “distracted with much serving” while Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching.” Jesus did not condemn Martha’s desire to serve; instead, He corrected her misplaced priorities. The “one thing” Mary chose was the better portion because fellowship with Christ is the foundation that makes faithful service possible. When "doing" is emphasized over "being," we miss God's heart in why we serve in the first place.
• Martha is often portrayed unfairly as someone who was simply too busy, but Scripture shows that she loved Jesus and desired to honor Him. In John 11, when Lazarus died, Martha demonstrated remarkable faith by declaring, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:27). So, in the account of Mary and Martha serving versus sitting, the lesson is not that serving is wrong and sitting is right; rather, Jesus calls His followers to serve from a heart that is first and foremost rooted in Him. We must be before we can do. 
  
• In the account of Mary and Martha serving Jesus, Mary shows the importance of prioritizing spiritual nourishment over constant activity. When Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, she took the posture of a disciple. In that culture, sitting at a teacher’s feet represented learning and receiving instruction (Acts 22:3). Jesus affirmed her choice because she recognized that listening to Him was more important than meeting the many demands surrounding her. That does not mean that meeting needs is bad—but she prioritized the right things first.
• Martha reveals how good responsibilities can become distractions. Jesus told Martha, “You are anxious and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41). Her problem was not hospitality but being so troubled by all she had to do (or that was not being done) that she missed what was most important: being with Jesus. She was serving Jesus while missing the peace that comes from being with Jesus and the heart that helps us to serve rightly.
• Jesus invites His followers to find rest in Him rather than carrying burdens alone. Martha’s frustration reveals the burden she was carrying: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” (Luke 10:40). Jesus responded not by adding another demand but by inviting her to recognize what mattered most. This connects with Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28–30, where He calls the weary to come to Him and find rest. The Christian life is not sustained by constantly striving for God’s approval but by resting in the grace and presence of Christ.
• Mary’s devotion demonstrates that love for Jesus should shape our priorities and choices. Mary appears again in John 12:1–8 when she anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume and wipes them with her hair. Jesus praised her act as preparation for His burial, showing that her devotion came from a heart that understood His worth. Mary’s actions were first and foremost about expressing love and worship.
• The story of Mary and Martha points to the greater reality of knowing Christ above all else and living out of that reality. Jesus repeatedly taught that the greatest priority of life is seeking God’s kingdom and following Him (Matthew 6:33; Matthew 16:26). Many things compete for our attention—success, productivity, approval, entertainment, and responsibilities—but only Christ provides lasting satisfaction. Mary chose the “good portion” because she recognized that time with Jesus was the one thing that could never be taken away (Luke 10:42).
• The New Testament does not teach Christians to withdraw from responsibilities but to approach them with the right foundation and focus. Jesus served others, washed His disciples’ feet, and gave His life sacrificially (John 13:1–17; Mark 10:45). The example of Mary and Martha teaches that the healthiest Christian life is not about choosing between worship and work, but about ensuring that worship comes first and fuels everything else we do.

implications for today

It is easy to become a “Martha.” We keep busy, signing up for every opportunity, filling every need, and doing countless things for God while neglecting love for Him and others. We equate doing with loving. While it is true that actions speak louder than words and that our actions show our love, these actions cannot come apart from the foundation of our love for God, which fuels our love for others.

When we get frustrated that no one else is helping, serve and love others only when it is convenient for us, or constantly do good things but spend time with Jesus or avoid spending time with those we are serving, our balance of doing and being is off.

The problem is not necessarily that we have to serve or do less—Jesus Himself served others and calls us to do the same—but that we serve without first and foremost sitting at His feet. We can become so focused on what we are doing for Jesus that we forget to spend time with Him. When we do this, we end up feeling anxious, frustrated, or even resentful, just like Martha, because we are trying to serve from an empty heart rather than from the overflow of our relationship with Him.

So what do we do? We must learn to prioritize being with Jesus before doing things for Jesus. Before saying yes to another responsibility, ask: “Is this flowing from my love for Christ, or am I trying to find my worth in what I accomplish?” "Am I seeking to love others well and is that what is coming through with my actions?" or "Am I revealing by my actions attitudes and expectations that do not reveal the heart of Christ?" Make time to be in God’s Word, pray, worship, and simply enjoy His presence so your service can come from a heart that is being transformed by Him. The goal is not to serve less but to serve better—to love God and people from a place of knowing that we are already loved by Him. Like Mary, we need to choose the better portion, allowing our relationship with Jesus to shape not only what we do but why we do it.