Luke, Sibling Rivalries, and the Good Part

The Gospel of Luke has interesting sibling tensions. There is Mary and Martha in Luke 10:

38 Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me. 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 one thing is needful.[f] Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”” 

There is the person in the crowd in Luke 12:

13 One of the multitude said to him, “Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or divider over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, 

These two cases seem to highlight similar things. Focus on the the better part that cannot be taken away. In the case of Martha, it wasn't serving that was the problem. It was that she was "distracted with much serving." For the other man, the request leads to the parable of the rich fool who stored up wealth for himself. That in itself is fine. It was that he was not also "rich toward God."

Then there's our friend, the prodigal son in Luke 15:

25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what this meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has received him safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”


The wayward son spends his inheritance, while the dutiful son/brother remains faithful and works hard. The prodigal gets rewarded with a party, the brother doesn't. Two of these sibling stories have to do with sharing inheritance. In the other case, the one calling out to Jesus felt an injustice was done to him. His brother was not sharing the inheritance. In this case, the older brother felt and injustice was done when in fact there was no injustice, just mercy.

Fairness is a persistent concern among family members. And in the presence of Jesus it is easy to call on him as a judge. But Jesus' response in all cases is to accept the perceived unfairness and focus on the one thing needful--the better part that shall not be taken away.