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Gospels · Luke

Luke 10 — But One Thing Is Needful

Summary

The Lord appoints seventy others; sends them two and two. The harvest is plenteous; pray the Lord of the harvest. Woes to Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum. The seventy return with joy — the devils are subject unto us through thy name. I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Jesus rejoices in spirit. A lawyer — who is my neighbour? The Good Samaritan. Go, and do thou likewise. Martha cumbered with serving; Mary at His feet. But one thing is needful.

Key verse

“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

— Luke 10:41-42

Outline
  1. v.1-16 The seventy sent
  2. v.17-24 Names written in heaven
  3. v.25-37 The good Samaritan
  4. v.38-42 Mary and Martha
Verse-by-verse
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Pray... that he would send forth labourers. Mission begins on the knees. The harvest is not addressed first by recruiting drives but by intercession to the Lord of the harvest.

Few labourers. The diagnosis has not changed. Whatever the population of the church, the workers are always too few. Pray accordingly — and be prepared that the Lord may send the one praying.

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

A corrective to spiritual triumphalism. The seventy were thrilled at their power; Christ redirected their joy to the deeper fact — they belong.

A counsel for ministry. The gifts and successes will rise and fall; the name written in heaven is permanent. Rejoice in the deeper certainty.

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

The two commands summed. Heart, soul, strength, mind toward God; neighbor as oneself toward others. The lawyer knew the answer; he had not lived it.

The Samaritan parable that follows shows what neighbour means — and forecloses every attempt to narrow the category by tribe, race, or convenience.

Cross-references Deuteronomy 6:5 · Leviticus 19:18 · Matthew 22:37-40 · Romans 13:8-10
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Martha's service was real; Mary's sitting was better. The chapter does not despise activity but ranks it below presence.

One thing is needful. The verse is a hierarchy. Many things are good; one is needful. Sit at His feet first; the serving will follow with the right spirit.

Key doctrines
Prayer for Harvest Labourers
Luke 10:2 · Matthew 9:37-38 · Romans 10:14-15
Joy in Names Written in Heaven
Luke 10:20 · Philippians 4:3 · Revelation 21:27
Love of God and Neighbour
Luke 10:27 · Matthew 22:37-40 · Romans 13:8-10
One Thing Needful — Sitting at Christ's Feet
Luke 10:42 · Psalm 27:4 · Philippians 3:13
Application

Verse 42 is the correction for the busy Christian. Many things are good; one is needful. If your service has crowded out your sitting, the proportions are wrong. Sit before you serve; the serving from a Mary heart looks different.

Christ in this chapter

Luke 10 places Christ at the center of mission, theology, and devotion. The seventy go in His name; the lawyer's right answer is shown to require the Samaritan's love which Christ Himself embodies; Mary chooses Him over service. The chapter's thread is the Person — sending, teaching, receiving.

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