Luke 10:42

10:42 but one thing ¹  is needed. Mary has chosen the best ²  part; it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 14:7

On Seeking Seats of Honor

14:7 Then ³  when Jesus ⁴  noticed how the guests ⁵  chose the places of honor, ⁶  he told them a parable. He said to them,

¹ tc Or, with some mss (̳ [א] B C² L 070^vid ˹ 33 [579] pc), “few things are needed – or only one” (as well as other variants). The textual problem here is a difficult one to decide. The shorter reading is normally preferred, but it is not altogether clear how the variants would arise from it. However, the reading followed in the translation has good support (with some internal variations) from a number of witnesses (Ì^45,75 A C* W Θ Ψ Ë¹³ Ï lat sa).

² tn Or “better”; Grk “good.” This is an instance of the positive adjective used in place of the superlative adjective. According to ExSyn 298, this could also be treated as a positive for comparative (“better”).

³ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ tn Grk “those who were invited.”

⁶ tn Or “the best places.” The “places of honor” at the meal would be those closest to the host.