Luke 10:38-11:13
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
11 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
3 Give us day by day our daily bread.
4 And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Martha busies herself with meal preparation while Mary busies herself with the word of Jesus. By telling Martha that her sister has chosen the good part that won’t be taken from her, Jesus is not condemning household duties, meal preparation, and the things of this life. He teaching her that “man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Martha is worried worried about earthly food at the moment when the the Lord, Bread of Life Himself, is sitting in her home teaching the words of eternal life. Far from diminishing service to one’s neighbor, Jesus teaches Martha to prioritize His Word when it is preached and taught.
At another time, Jesus disciples approach Him and ask to be taught how to pray. Jesus teaches them to ask their Father in heaven for everything they need, including daily bread. However, before He teaches them to pray for daily bread He teaches them to pray for the good part that Mary chose. He teaches them to pray that God’s name be hallowed, which means that His Word is taught purely and correctly and that they live holy lives according it. He teaches them to pray that God’s kingdom comes—that God give them His Holy Spirit so that they may believe and live godly lives. He teaches them to pray that God’s will be done—that God would strengthen and keep them in His Word and faith until the end. They also ask for forgiveness, the strength to overcome every temptation, and protection from every evil according to God’s will.
Jesus teaches us to prioritize His Word, for we do not live by bread alone, by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. He teaches us to pray for everything we need, especially the Holy Spirit, since it is only by His Spirit that we believe His Holy Word and live holy lives according to it. If we, who are evil by nature, know how to give good things to our children, how much more will our heavenly Father gives us the Holy Spirit through His Word?
Let us pray: Give us Your Holy Spirit, heavenly Father, that we may steadfastly hear Your holy Word, confidently believe it, and live holy lives according to it. Amen
