Luke 10 42

Luke 10:42 kjv

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Luke 10:42 nkjv

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:42 niv

but few things are needed?or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:42 esv

but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:42 nlt

There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10 verses

Luke 10 42 Meaning

This verse emphasizes the supreme importance of spiritual devotion and hearing Christ's words above all other preoccupations, even seemingly good ones. Jesus clarifies that while Martha was distracted by many preparations, Mary chose the singular, enduring, and eternally beneficial priority of being present with and learning from the Lord, a choice that has lasting value beyond temporal concerns.

Luke 10 42 Context

The immediate context of Luke 10:42 is the brief but significant narrative of Jesus' visit to the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany (Luke 10:38-42). Martha, acting as the diligent hostess, was "distracted with much serving" (Luke 10:40), a culturally expected role requiring extensive preparation and hospitality. Her sister Mary, however, sat "at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching" (Luke 10:39). Martha complains to Jesus, asking Him to tell Mary to help. Jesus' response to Martha redirects the focus, declaring Mary's choice superior.

Within the broader chapter, Jesus has just sent out the seventy-two disciples with instructions focused on the Kingdom (Luke 10:1-12), followed by woes to unrepentant cities (Luke 10:13-16). He then celebrates the disciples' spiritual authority and reminds them that true joy is in their names being written in heaven (Luke 10:17-20). The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) precedes the Martha and Mary account, illustrating what it means to "love your neighbor." This sequence emphasizes both outward action (love for neighbor) and inward posture (love for God, hearing His word). Jesus constantly reorients His disciples towards spiritual priorities over earthly concerns, echoing His teachings on seeking the Kingdom first (Matt 6:33) and not laboring for perishing food (John 6:27). Mary's choice embodies the necessary single-minded devotion to the true priority.

Luke 10 42 Word analysis

• "But" (de - δέ): A conjunction marking a strong contrast. It signals a shift from Martha's complaint and focus on "many things" to Jesus' counter-perspective highlighting a single, superior alternative.
• "one thing" (hen - ἓν): An emphatic numerical adjective meaning "one." It signifies singularity and exclusive focus, diametrically opposing Martha's "many things" (pollas - πολλὰς). This "one thing" is not merely one task among many, but the ultimate singular priority.
• "is necessary" (estin chreia - ἐστιν χρεία): Chreia implies need, necessity, requirement. It denotes that which is essential, indispensable, and foundational. It's not a suggestion or an option, but a vital imperative.
• "Mary" (Mariam - Μαριάμ): Significance is her specific action. In the cultural context, for a woman to sit at a rabbi's feet was highly unusual, typically reserved for male disciples. Her posture signifies humble submission, teachability, and a thirst for spiritual instruction.
• "has chosen" (exelateto - ἐξελέξατο, from eklegomai - ἐκλέγομαι): An aorist middle indicative verb, suggesting a deliberate, personal, and decisive act of selection or preference. Mary actively, consciously, and definitively made this choice for herself. It wasn't an accidental stumble or passive behavior.
• "the good portion" (tēn agathēn merida - τὴν ἀγαθὴν μερίδα):
  • Agathēn (ἀγαθὴν): Means good, excellent, morally good, beneficial. It describes the inherent quality of the choice as truly beneficial and morally right, contrasting with temporary or lesser "goods."
  • Merida (μερίδα): Literally "a part" or "a share," often referring to an allotted portion, an inheritance, or one's lot in life. In Old Testament thought, God Himself is often described as the "portion" of His people (Ps 16:5; Lam 3:24). This implies that Mary's chosen portion is intimate fellowship with God through hearing His word.
• "which will not be taken away from her" (hētis ouk aphairethēsetai ap' autēs - ἥτις οὐκ ἀφαιρεθήσεται ἀπ' αὐτῆς):
  • Aphairethēsetai (ἀφαιρεθήσεται, future passive indicative from aphaireō): To take away, remove, cut off. The strong negative "ouk" and the future tense indicate permanence and security. What Mary chose is an eternal possession, something that cannot be diminished, lost, or revoked, unlike material preparations or even the opportunity for service.
• "But one thing is necessary.": This phrase serves as the pivotal contrast to Martha's "many things." It reorients the listener to prioritize singular devotion to Christ and His word over the clamor of duties or distractions. It defines the core essence of discipleship.
• "Mary has chosen the good portion": This highlights volitional commitment and a perceptive recognition of true value. Mary did not just "happen" into it; she chose it, recognizing its superiority. The "good portion" signifies an incomparable spiritual inheritance that enriches one's deepest being.
• "which will not be taken away from her": This part emphasizes the eternal security and lasting value of this choice. Unlike material wealth, temporary services, or earthly accolades that are perishable, the spiritual nourishment and relationship gained from Jesus are permanent and secure.

Luke 10 42 Bonus section

• The tension between "being" and "doing" in the Christian life is a perennial theme addressed here. Jesus validates the primacy of being with Him and drawing from Him, from which all meaningful and non-anxious "doing" flows.
• This passage does not negate the value of hospitality or service, but rather places spiritual nourishment and relational communion with God as foundational to all other good works. Without the "one thing necessary," service can become wearisome, driven by duty rather than overflowing love.
• The phrase "good portion" resonates with Old Testament concepts where God Himself is the "portion" of the Levites and of believers (Num 18:20, Ps 16:5). Mary's choice suggests that hearing Jesus' words is akin to receiving God Himself as one's greatest inheritance and sustenance.
• Jesus’ defense of Mary implicitly validates a woman’s right and capacity to engage in serious theological learning and discipleship, a radical idea for His time, where formal rabbinic training was generally limited to men.

Luke 10 42 Commentary

Luke 10:42 encapsulates Jesus' profound teaching on the essential nature of discipleship. In the familiar scene, Martha's diligent service, though good in itself, became a source of distraction and anxiety, eclipsing the paramount need for spiritual nourishment. Mary, by contrast, chose the "one thing necessary": intimate communion with and attentive listening to the Lord Jesus. This was not a criticism of service (diakonia) itself, but a critique of disordered priorities. Jesus prioritizes being with Him and hearing His words over being for Him in anxious toil. The "good portion" that Mary chose is not a physical share or a temporal task but the profound benefit derived from sitting at Jesus' feet—a metaphor for discipleship, learning, and intimate fellowship. This spiritual treasure is described as permanent and unassailable ("will not be taken away from her"), contrasting sharply with the transient nature of worldly concerns and even commendable duties if they overshadow true spiritual sustenance. The verse challenges believers to critically assess their "necessary" tasks and ensure their primary pursuit aligns with that which truly endures.