Women have always cheered at the story of Mary of Bethany in Luke 10:38-42. Mary wanted to sit and learn from Jesus, in spite of Martha’s bossy reminders that a long list of chores had her name on them. Despite Martha’s protests, Jesus took her side.
I’ve written before about how Jewish culture sheds light on this story. The text says that Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet,” which was an idiom that referred to studying with a rabbi as a disciple. In Acts 22:3, Paul uses this same expression to boast of his advanced rabbinic education “at the feet of Gamaliel.” The idea here is not that Mary chose the floor to show her utter subservience. It’s that she had boldly included herself in Jesus’ innermost circle of disciples, at least for that evening.
Recently I discovered that Jesus’ Jewish context can unlock more of his words in this passage. I’ve been studying verse 42. The odd wording has always puzzled translators. Literally, it reads,
“Mary indeed the good portion (agathen merida) has chosen, which will not be taken from her.”
Typically, English versions will smooth out this line by saying that Mary has “chosen what’s better.” Of course her piety was better than Martha’s distracted worrying. But something more interesting is going on. The Greek text doesn’t simply say that Mary made a “better choice.” It says, literally, that she had chosen the “good portion” (agathen merida). The phrase Jesus uses here is specifically used in Jewish circles about the goodness of Torah study.
The Greek word merida is likely “helek” in Hebrew. It means “portion,” “part,” “share,” or “lot,” and often refers to a share of inheritance, or one’s lot in life, metaphorically.
The word comes up in Jewish writings in a context very similar to this one. When groups gather to study, it’s traditional to pray beforehand: “ten helkenu b’toratekha” — God, please “give us our portion in your Torah.” Upon leaving, one would thank God for one’s “portion” in life, which was good because one had a chance to study the Scriptures. Listen to how one early rabbi (1st-2nd cent AD) would pray as he left each day’s session:
“I thank thee, Lord my God, God of my fathers, that you set my portion with those who sit in the study hall and the synagogues, and you did not set my portion with those who sit in the theaters and circuses.” (Jerusalem Talmud, Berakhot 4:2)
To this rabbi, meditating on the Scriptures was life as it was meant to be lived. He had been among the lucky few invited to linger on the very words of the living God. Here’s how another put it:
Turn it over and over because everything is in it. And reflect upon it and grow old and worn in it and do not leave it, for you have no better portion than this.” (Mishnah, Avot 5:2)
There’s no better portion in life than learning the Scriptures. To ruminate in its profound insights, to marinate in God’s wisdom — there’s simply nothing better.
This was the “good portion” that Mary chose – studying God’s Word. And, not only that, she had found the greatest rabbi of all time to teach her. Mary had found the very best thing in life, and Jesus would not let it be taken from her.
Marylin Bright says
Well done, Lois! Great insights! Would Ps. 16:6 “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance” be similar to Jesus’ words to Mary?
Lois Tverberg says
Good question! That is the idea – that your “inheritance” from God is your “portion” in life.
In the psalms, David speaks of God as his “portion” too, by the way.
Psa. 119:57 The LORD is my portion;
I have promised to keep Your words.
Psa. 142:5 I cried out to You, O LORD;
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
CMoore says
Oh Lord how excellent is thy name in al the earth for you have allowed me to find my portion among those that are sanctified. AMEN
Tim Babatunde says
The Queen of Sheba commented on how blessed the ones that seat at the feet of Solomon I Kings 10:8, I believe they too choose the good part .Queen of Sheba called them blessed. Your writing on these matter has a transforming effect on the heart of a diligent student of the word thank you .
Blessings.
Mary says
I am so encouraged by this. For three years I have been devouring scriptures, teachings, and God has been revealing his truth and this passage has meant so much to me. Thank you for your this as it takes it to an even deeper level and is so timely for this Mary. God bless you and may he enlarge your portion as well.
Floyd Quinerly says
Im intrigued and will be giving this scripture futher consideration and prayer thanks for this thought provoking pearl.
Maiyehinu Bayode says
Let’s also look at the book of Jeremiah 29:13 it says And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. Without the word life is meaningless.
Paul Scott says
Lois thank you so much for sharing your “good portion” with us. It encourages us and challenges us to jump into the Word and study more diligently. Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Daniel Folawole Olulana says
Words of God ever liveth; in this fast moving world of “corruption”, Christians should step up control and purpose to turn our youth to God. Devil will stop at nothing destroying destinies but as long as the Word remain our delight, no force of hell can derail. We MUST be like Apostle Paul In his charge to Timothy in bringing”his parchments……”.
Thank you for this piece. There is no alternative in all our “getting” than Wisdom from His WORD!
Daniel
Anthony says
Any chance “good portion” connects us to Cain & Able? Not that she has murder in her heart, but that the jelousy Martha may be feeling is something she needs to master.
Lois Tverberg says
Mmm…I’m pretty doubtful.
When rabbinic connections are made, it’s almost always done by quoting words distinctive to the original story. There is no verbal connection here to the Cain and Abel story. But Jesus’ words here have a clear link to multiple well-known sayings about the study of Torah.
Jessica says
My church also preached on this passage this weekend and the Good Samaritan the week before. No one tied the jealousy Martha had back to Cain and Able. But the pastor did mention that Jesus wasn’t critiquing Martha’s eager acts of service, necessarily. It was that he didn’t want Martha to be jealous of the good portion that Mary chose.
(Would Mary have been as free to choose that good portion if it wasn’t for Martha’s hard work?)
Our pastor mentioned that Luke had just been telling the story of the good Samaritan in the previous verses- so obviously, working to serve others in need isn’t a bad thing. And no one said it was. But, it seems, a common misconception is to pit Martha’s actions and Mary’s contemplation at odds with one another.
I do think, in context with the Good Samaritan, Martha’s hard and lonely work which led to her covetous attitude towards her sister is something that Jesus didn’t want for Martha. I believe he wants us to be happy to prepare moments for others to enjoy the “good portion”. And for us also to participate in the “good portion” ourselves. We are the body of Christ, and we need to make sure everyone gets an opportunity to take part in the “good portion”.
Meanwhile – thankful for your study on the literal meaning of the “good portion”.
Totally different focus than we had this week. But that’s what makes Bible study so profound 🙂
Thank you!
Christie Lothamer says
wow, i think you miss a trick by focusing on the “knowledge” of God’s word. I agree with everything you said, I just feel that with Jesus things are always deeper and he isn’t so focused on intellectual knowledge but intimate knowledge. Epignosko kind of knowing. Mary’s place at Jessu feel and her relishing with her portion mean that she got more than a good bible lesson, she got HIM! She has a relationship with HIM! We border on the pharisaical “you search the scriptures because you think in them you find eternal life, but eternal life is found in me!” There will be no Bible reading in heaven, it is not our portion. JESUS, the living word, he is our portion!
Lois Tverberg says
Wow. No.
Yes, there is emotional “knowledge of God” – I’ve written about it a lot.
But Christie, my life for the past twenty-five years is a testimony to the fact that the depths and the riches of studying God’s Word are unending, but some of the study requires boring, boring things like learning languages and digging into commentaries.
I grew up in a church with your attitude of “Just give Jesus a BIG HUG” and it was completely inadequate for when my faith was challenged, like when I had New Testament professors in college who were very skeptical of the historical reliability of the Bible. I almost lost my faith before I found much better scholarship that showed that Jesus expected his listeners to know their Old Testament well, and he frequently referred to it and made brilliant points from it and radical claims to be the One it was talking about. My New Testament professors had no clue about this and they were missing the amazing claims he was making. That’s what I’ve written several books about.
Study is the highest form of worship, Christie.
When we pray, we speak to God, but when we study, He speaks to us.
Kimberly Jean Smith says
Amen Lois!
JOHNS says
Mary’s portion. (Meros). The same word is used in the context of the Washing of the Feet. Jesus tells Peter, if I do not wash you then you cannot have a part, an inheritance with me. In the Old Testament the Levites were having the inheritance of the Lord and did not have a physical portion in the land of Israel. Marys portion is the Lords like the levites, like Peter in the NT. This is revolutionary. Thanks Louis.
Lois Tverberg says
Dear John, That’s a very interesting point that the Levites inherited no land, and the Lord himself was their “portion.” We would expect the Levites to be the teachers of the Scriptures to the rest of Israel since they didn’t farm land to support themselves but drew their support from the Temple.
It seems that by the New Testament era, many others who were not from the family of Levi also became teachers of Scripture, and they thanked God for their “portion” in the Scriptures too.
Jean says
Thank you for your insight on this nugget of scripture. I especially am fed by your Hebraic insight which gives clarity and perspective to the meaning.
I love studying the scripture and am now immersed in the Belgic confession and the Cannon’s of Dort. It seems like rarely do our churches do messages on either of these.
Barbara Hyland says
Every teaching from Yeshua came from Torah. We disconnect Him from his spiritual roots. As you said. Study is the highest form of worship. It’s an active verb as well. Discipleship is not just sitting in a pew. Worship is doing. Read James
Heather Hanson says
Lois, Thank You! I needed to read this. I’ve been struggling to reignite my study of God’s Word after baby #2, but you’ve reminded me it’s the best choice I can make!
Edith Sher says
Thank you for these beautiful insights.
Nancy Dawson says
Thank you Lois for the Jewish insights into this passage. I remember in studying OT and doing work on genealogies that the root idea behind “You are my Portion” referred to the Levitical priesthood who did not obtain an inheritance of land in the Promised Land, but rather their privileged ‘portion’ was service to God at the Tabernacle and Temple: Numbers 18:20 “Then the LORD said to Aaron: ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.'” I think Mary was including herself in this called-out, separated group, focused on studying Torah and participating in full-time service to the Lord, her Rabbi.
Lois Tverberg says
Hi Nancy – That’s a great thought about the Levites – and yes the Lord is their “portion” rather than a land inheritance like the rest. We would expect the Levites to be the teachers of the Scriptures because of this. I know that Levites had special roles in the synagogue in the towns they lived in the first century, and they still do, even up until today.
But all Jews who come to synagogues prayed the prayers I quoted, not just the Levites. The tradition of laypeople studying and teaching in the synagogue that developed in Babylon caused many non-Levites to study and teach the Scriptures too, including Jesus. There were a few rabbis from Levitical families but most were not.
We find the word helek (portion) in other significant places too. It was also said that God’s portion was his people – Deut. 32:9, Zech 2:12, and several Psalms talk about God as the psalmist’s “portion”: Ps. 16:5, 73:26, 119:57, 142:5. So the idea of God as one’s “portion” is wider than just the Levites and their relationship with God and Scripture.
But you’re right that studying Scripture would be associated with having the Lord as one’s portion in life. Interesting.
Dennis Howard says
Lois, this was an exceptional posting from you! Thank you!
Clif Payne says
Great observation. Your commentary makes this pericope more meaningful.
Steve K says
Thank you so much Lois for the article. To learn new insights and new Hebrew words is really a great help to understand the scriptures. Please continue to send me fresh articles.
God bless
Steve