New Testament · Gospel

Luke 10:38

The Good Samaritan

As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Luke 10:38 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Luke 10:38, in plain English

Jesus arrives at the home of a woman named Martha, who opens her doors to welcome Him. She's the kind of person who takes charge and makes things happen.

Why it's here

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were some of Jesus' closest friends. Their home in Bethany was a place where Jesus could relax and be himself.

Who's speaking

Luke sets the scene for a new episode, moving from a dramatic parable to an intimate moment in a friend's home.

Where it sits in the story

After the big crowds and parables, Jesus steps into a quiet home. What happens next is a gentle but profound lesson about what matters most.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

Martha (Aramaic: 'lady' or 'mistress') receives Jesus as host, indicating she was likely the homeowner. The verb hupedexato (welcomed) implies formal hospitality, a significant social obligation in the ancient Near East.

Language and setting

This Bethany home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus appears multiple times in the Gospels as a place of refuge for Jesus. Martha's role as host carried considerable social weight and responsibility.

Voice

Luke narrates Jesus' arrival at Martha's home, transitioning from the Good Samaritan parable to a domestic scene.

Significance

Immediately after teaching about active compassion, Jesus enters a home that will illustrate the tension between service and spiritual attentiveness.

In context

Luke 10:36–40

36Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law.

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

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

40But 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!”

Read all of Luke 10 — A lawyer asks how to inherit eternal life and gets an answer he doesn't expect. The hero of the story is the one everyone despises.

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