Mary and Martha: Only One Thing Is Needed

Before You Begin

You're about to read this story with your child because you want to share something that matters to you. This page is a quick, one-time read: a few thoughts on the conversation that might follow.

You're probably coming to this story with years behind you: years of hearing it before, thinking about it, maybe wrestling with what it means. Your child is just starting to build that same understanding, one story at a time.

So where you see something settled and familiar, they may still be working out the basic shape of it: who's who, what happened, why it happened at all.

That's usually what's behind a question that catches you off guard, or an answer that isn't the one you expected. It rarely means they're pushing back on the story.

More often, it just means they're still putting the pieces together.

Your instinct to help them understand is a good one. That instinct doesn't need to change. It can just help to find out what they already think before you add to it.

One way to ask

"Why do you think that?"

Or however it comes out naturally: "How did you understand that part?" · "What are you wondering about?"

Whatever they say, hear it first. Then you're free to explain, circle back to the story, or just say what's often true anyway: "That's a good question. Let's think about it together."

Kids usually don't run out of questions.
What can change, over time, is who they still feel comfortable bringing them to.

One more thing, before you start: you don't need to prepare this story, simplify it, or figure out how to explain it as you go. That part's already done. Each devotion is written in plain, easygoing language your child can follow, with the harder moments already thought through, so you can just sit down together and start reading.

The Story

Two Sisters

Jesus was on his way, and he entered a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

Martha had a sister called Mary. And while Martha hurried with the serving, Mary sat down at Jesus’ feet and listened to what he said.

Martha was distracted with all the things there were to do. There was serving, and preparing, and she was doing it all herself. 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."

Pause For A Moment

Two sisters, one house, one guest. One of them is on her feet doing everything, and one is sitting and listening.

Have you ever felt like the one doing everything? What does it feel like to be busy while someone else rests?

Turn the page and hear what Jesus said.

Jesus answered her. "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things."

Then he said, "But one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Martha was worried about many things. Mary was sitting and listening. And Jesus said quietly that one thing was needed, and that Mary had chosen it.

What do you think the one thing was?

There is no single right answer, but you and your child can talk about what matters most when someone you love comes to visit.

For the Parent

How to Talk About This Story With Your Child

This is a small, domestic scene and the smallest of the ten passages almost no action at all. A woman welcomes Jesus, her sister sits at his feet, the woman complains, and Jesus answers gently. That is the whole story.

Children do not miss the point quickly. It is very hard to be anxious about many things and also truly present with the person in the room. The story draws that picture without ever saying it in so many words.

One caution: this story has often been turned into a lesson against serving, or a ranking of sisters. The text does not say Martha was wrong to serve, and it does not scold her. Jesus simply says she is troubled about many things, and that listening is the part chosen by Mary that cannot be taken away.

You can let those words rest without adding a moral.

Prayer

Pray Together

You do not have to use these exact words. You can tell God what you think about the story in your own words. Or you can pray this together:

Thank You, Jesus, for visiting Mary and Martha’s house. Thank You for the listening way Mary chose, and for the forgotten one thing at the center of a busy day. Help us slow down enough to be with You, and to be with the people we love. Amen.

To Close

Jesus came to the village, and Martha welcomed him into her house. She hurried with many things, and her sister Mary sat at his feet and listened.

Martha came to Jesus, full of worry. And Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Keep Exploring Together

Continue your family Bible time with more free stories and activities from Little Faith Hands.

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What did Mary do while Martha was busy?

Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he said, while her sister Martha was distracted with much serving (Luke 10:39-40).

What did Jesus say to Martha?

Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42).

Was Martha wrong to serve?

The text does not say serving was wrong. Jesus does not tell Martha to stop serving. He tells her she is worried about many things, and that sitting and listening was the part Mary had chosen.