Luke 10:42

42. One thing is needful That is, one thing is a necessity. Your mind, in attending to a multiplicity, is forgetting the great one. These are desirable; that is indispensable. To make Jesus here say, as some commentators do, that but one dish instead of many is needful, is scarce less than burlesque; and such an interpretation should be carried out by making Mary’s good part signify the best bit in the dish! How unjustifiable is this low interpretation, (ancient though it be,) is clear from this fact, that neither dish nor food has been once named in the narrative. The many to which the one thing is contrasted does not indicate either. It is properly supplemented by our translators with the word things; as including the total multiplicity of her household cares. Against this distracting earthly many our Lord solemnly opposes the heavenly but forgotten one.

The term needful in the Greek is a noun necessity. What profit earthly activities, pre-eminences, gains, and enjoyments, if we miss that one absolute necessity, without which our all is lost!

Chosen that good part Our Lord does not imply that Martha has not so chosen; he only asserts that Mary has. His purpose is not accusation; but, after gentle reproof of the accuser, to vindicate the accused. In preference to the distracting many things, she has chosen the one good part, a share in the blessed eternal things.

Chosen It was the act of her own free will. Neither the good part, nor the choice, nor the will, was imposed upon her by any arbitrary decree or purpose of God, or any necessity of her own inward nature. As amiable natures as she, with as good opportunities, doubtless, rejected the Saviour; as with all her loveliness and opportunities it was in her power to do. And, hereby, we do not depreciate the grace of God, and the operations of the Spirit, or the fullness or the freeness of the Saviour’s atonement; all which enabled and offered, but never imposed or necessitated, her acceptance or her salvation.

Not be taken away from her As her free choice, through God’s grace, accepted and made that good part her own, so that same free choice can ever retain it. As God never will take it from her, so neither men nor devils ever can. She may renounce and throw it away; but not all the powers of evil can ever take it from her.