Martha and Mary and how Jesus says the person who listens to God is better than the person who does good for others
Luke 10:38-42
New International Version
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,
42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
It is clear that Jesus could have divided his teaching between the two of them.
It is clear that Martha had to do the work.
It is clear that he had no business telling Martha that Mary would not be helping her. Typical patriarch talking down to a woman. In this case, he was not even a husband or anything but only a guest. That drives home how bigoted he was.
Yet he argues that religious instruction is what really matters.
This is completely against what the Church wants to believe. Why bother with charities and hospitals then?
Mary sits at his feet like a disciple did with the master. That was very degrading. Jesus could have sat at her feet. He turned things around in the John gospel when he washed the disciples' feet.
And there was no need for sitting at anybody's feet.
Is Jesus saying Mary is better to take things easy instead of upsetting and worrying herself? If so he is making Martha feel bad about doing her duties.
He says only one thing is needed. He says Martha does not need to be doing the good things she is doing. The text does not say what the one thing needed is. But the context would show that the one thing that is needed is to listen to God in the form of God's prophet.
Jesus is clearly saying that the good you do is unimportant. What matters is being religious. He even goes as far as to refuse to encourage Mary to help. A little help would have done no harm.
He was a nut.