Luke 10:42 NASB

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 10:42

But one thing is needful - That is, religion, or piety. This is eminently and especially needful. Other things are of little importance. This should be secured first, and then all other things will be added. See 1 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 6:33.That good part - The portion of the gospel; the love of God, and an interest in his kingdom. She had chosen to be a Christian, and to give up her time and affections to God.Which shall not be taken away - God will not take away his grace from his people,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:38-42. It came to pass as they went As they journeyed to Jerusalem, whither it seems he was going to celebrate the feast of dedication: he entered into a certain village Namely, Bethany, nigh to Jerusalem; and a certain woman named Martha received him Martha was probably the elder sister, and, Grotius thinks, a widow, with whom her brother and sister lived. At least, she was now the housekeeper, and acted as the mistress of the family. And she had a sister called Mary Who,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Luke 10:38-42

84. Jesus in the house of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)There must have been much tension in Jesus’ heart as he steadily moved closer to the climax of his work. But with his disciples in need of his teaching and people everywhere in need of his help, he had little time for relaxation. Therefore, to get away from the crowd, he stopped for some quiet fellowship at the house of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38). (Mary and Martha, along with their brother Lazarus, lived in the village of Bethany, just... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Luke 10:42

one thing , &c. = of one of [them] is there need. Not the unspiritual idea of "one dish", as there were not two or more as in our days. The Lord referred not to Martha's serving, but to her over-care. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Luke 10:42

Luke 10:42. But one thing is needful:— "There is one thing absolutely necessary, and of infinitely greater importance than any of those domestic and secular affairs; even the care to have the soul instructed in the saving knowledge of the way that leads to eternal life, and to secure a title to it. And Mary is wisely attending to this; therefore, instead of reproving her, I must rather declare, that she has chosen what may eminently be called the good part, which shall not be taken away from... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Luke 10:42

42. one thing, c.—The idea of "Short work and little of it suffices for Me" is not so much the lower sense of these weighty words, as supposed in them, as the basis of something far loftier than any precept on economy. Underneath that idea is couched another, as to the littleness both of elaborate preparation for the present life and of that life itself, compared with another. chosen the good part—not in the general sense of Moses' choice ( :-), and Joshua's ( :-), and David's ( :-) that is, of... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 10:38-42

2. The relation of disciples to Jesus 10:38-42This is another incident involving women who became disciples of Jesus (cf. Luke 8:1-3; et al.). Like the parable of the Good Samaritan it shows Jesus overcoming prejudice. As the former parable illustrated the meaning of the second commandment, this one elucidates the first commandment. Jesus had claimed to be the revealer of God to humankind (Luke 10:22). Now the disciples learned again the importance of listening to Him (cf. Luke 8:1-21; et... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Luke 10:41-42

Jesus showed concern for Martha’s anxiety (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:32-35), but He did not do what she asked. The many things that bothered Martha were her excessive preparations for the meal. She had allowed her duties as hostess to become too burdensome. Apparently she wished to honor Jesus with an elaborate meal, but a simpler one that would have allowed her some time to listen to her guest would have been better. The few things in view were the things involved in simple entertaining. The one... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 10:1-42

The Seventy. The Good Samaritan. Martha and Mary1-16. Choice and mission of the Seventy (peculiar to Lk). Another step in the organisation of the Church. The Seventy receive a subordinate commission, similar to that of the apostles, to preach and to cast out devils (Luke 10:9, Luke 10:17). Two motives may be discerned in the sending forth of so numerous a body of missionaries. (1) The time before His Passion was now short, and Jesus wished the message of salvation to reach as many Israelites as... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Luke 10:42

(42) But one thing is needful.—Some of the better MSS. present a singular various-reading, There is need of few things, or of one only. It is obvious that this might be taken either literally or spiritually. They might mean (1) that He who spoke, and the others who were coming, needed not the many things about which Martha was troubled, but a few only, or even but a single dish, to supply their wants; or (2) that the true life of men needed but a few things, such as faith, obedience, the fear... read more