Read Luke 10:38–42 in your chosen translation. Everything below is original teaching commentary by Living Letters, not a Bible quotation. Suggested ages and timings can be adapted.
THE LEARNING GOAL
Compare Mary’s and Martha’s actions without treating practical service as unimportant.
Open the conversation
Try listening to a short sentence while also sorting objects. Discuss how divided attention can affect what is heard.
Read and notice
Martha welcomes Jesus into her home. Her sister Mary sits at his feet and listens to his teaching. The account introduces both hospitality and learning, so begin by recognizing what each woman is doing.
Martha becomes distracted with much serving and asks Jesus to tell Mary to help. Jesus addresses her worry and troubled attention, then affirms Mary’s choice. Read his response carefully rather than turning the sisters into simple labels for good and bad people.
The passage can open a conversation about balancing necessary work with attention to learning. It does not require a classroom to neglect practical responsibilities. Invite learners to think about setting aside distractions during a short reading and returning to shared tasks afterward.
Explore together
Make two columns: What the passage says and What we are assuming. Sort statements about the sisters, keeping unsupported judgments out of the first column.
Questions worth asking
Invite learners to answer from the passage first. Open a suggested answer when you are ready to discuss it.
1. Who welcomes Jesus into the home?
Suggested answer
Martha (verse 38).
2. What is Mary doing?
Suggested answer
Sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to his word or teaching (verse 39).
3. What concern does Jesus address in Martha?
Suggested answer
Her worry and troubled or distracted attention about many things (verses 40–41).
Inside the activity pack
- Word search
- Find six key words, then point to where they connect with the reading.
- Matching
- Connect four names, objects, or ideas with clues and references.
- Flashcards
- Review the same four connections aloud or with a partner.
- Missing words
- Complete a short review of the teaching notes. This exercise uses commentary, not a Scripture quotation.
Use one activity or all four. For younger learners, read instructions aloud and work together. For older groups, ask for evidence from the passage before showing answers.
Published November 10, 2026 · Living Letters · Editorial approach · Suggest a correction