Luke 10:42

Luke 10:42

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

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

b. 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.”

c. YLT: but of one thing there is need, and Mary the good part did choose, that shall not be taken away from her.'

d. Amplified Bible: There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.

e. Worrell Translation: but of one thing there is need; for Mary chose the good part, which, indeed, shall not be taken away from her.”

1. “But one thing is needful…”

a. but [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. one thing [1520 * heis] [Strong: (including the neuter (etc.) hen); a primary numeral; one:--a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some.]

c. is [2076 * esti] [Strong: third person singular present indicative of 1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.]

d. needful [5532 * chreia] [Strong: from the base of 5530 or 5534; employment, i.e. an affair; also (by implication) occasion, demand, requirement or destitution:--business, lack, necessary(-ity), need(-ful), use, want.]

2. “…and Mary hath chosen that good part…”

a. and [1161 * de] [Strong: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. Mary [3137 * Maria] [Strong: or Mariam mar-ee-am' of Hebrew origin (4813); Maria or Mariam (i.e. Mirjam), the name of six Christian females:-- Mary.]

c. hath chosen [1586 * eklegomai] [Strong: middle voice from 1537 and 3004 (in its primary sense); to select:--make choice, choose (out), chosen.]

d. that good [18 * agathos] [Strong: a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):--benefit, good(-s, things), well.]

e. part [3310 * meris] [Strong: feminine of 3313; a portion, i.e. province, share or (abstractly) participation:--part (X -akers).]

1). The “good part” that Jesus referred to was “that Mary sat at Jesus feet and heard his word”. There is a couple of passages from the Old Testament that I believe apply here and has a direct link to what happened later in Mary’s life. Mary chose to hear the words of Jesus because they were more valuable than other things.

a). Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

2). Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

3). In light of these promises let us fast forward to the week prior to Jesus death and resurrection. Jesus is at Bethany in the house where Martha, Mary and Lazarus live. While there Mary does a very powerful thing.

a). John 12:1-8  Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

12:2 There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

12:4 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

12:7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

12:8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

4). While John does not go into much detail concerning Jesus’ response to Mary’s critics, Matthew does.

a). Matthew 26:10-13 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

26:12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

b). All the other people in that building including his own disciples missed the significance of what Mary was doing and why she was doing it. Mary, because of her love for the word received a revelation that even his own disciples missed. Whenever she could she sat at Jesus feet and heard his word, giving attendance to it, and not letting it depart from her eyes, she was finding the knowledge of God and finding hid treasure. Mary was given revelation knowledge concerning Jesus’ upcoming death and she was anointing his body for burial. Jesus said that wherever the gospel would be preached, what she did would also be told for a memorial to her. What a powerful thing to be said of her. Let’s be like Mary and choose the good part, to sit at Jesus feet and hear his word! Hallelujah!