Luke 10:42

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

AD 1637
But one thing is needfull. The Greek has ו̉םן̀ע ה ו̉ףפים קזוב; and this "one thing" Christ places in opposition to the "many things" about which Martha was troubled. What then is this one thing which is needful? Luther, Bullinger, Melancthon, and other like innovators answer, Faith, i.e. to hear the Gospel and to believe in it. For this is what the Magdalene did. Hence they think that faith only is necessary for salvation. Only believe, they say, that you are saved through the merits of Christ, and you will assuredly obtain your salvation. But such a faith is rash and delusive. For blasphemers and evildoers might possess it. Hence, in addition to faith, hope, charity, and good works are necessary for salvation, as is clear from S. Matthew 19:17, 1 Corinthians 13:13, and Holy Scripture generally, and from the example of the Magdalene herself, who not only heard, but was obedient to the word of the Lord. See S. Luke 7:43. The truer and more orthodox interpreta...

George Leo Haydock

AD 1849
One thing is necessary. Some think that Christ's meaning was, that Martha was preparing many dishes, when one was sufficient. But others, that this one thing necessary, was to learn, and comply with the will of God; which Mary was employed about. (Witham)

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20

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