One Thing's Needful Lord This Treasure
One thing's needful, Lord, this treasure
One Thing's Needful Lord This Treasure is a hymn text by Nikolai Leonhard Zinzendorf (1725) in 8.7.8.7.8.8.7 meter. Translated by John Christian Jacobi. Found in elw 576, lsb 536, lw 277, tlh 366. Sung to GOTT DES HIMMELS.
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran emphasis on Christ as the center of Christian life and faith, drawing from Luke 10:42's teaching that sitting at Jesus' feet listening to His word is the 'better part.' It reflects the Reformation principle that Christ alone is our treasure and that personal relationship with Him supersedes external works or distractions.
History & Background
Written by Nikolai Zinzendorf, founder of the Moravian Church, this hymn reflects the pietistic and contemplative spirituality of the Moravian tradition. Translated by John Christian Jacobi from the German original, it became widely used in Lutheran hymnals throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 576
- Lutheran Service Book — 536
- Lutheran Worship — 277
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 366
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Count Zinzendorf in 1725, this Moravian hymn echoes the Reformation's insistence that Christ alone is our treasure, drawing its strength from Luke 10:42's invitation to 'the better part.'
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran Gospel witness: the Law accuses us of divided hearts and restless striving, while the Gospel comforts us with intimate access to Christ as our all-sufficient treasure and sustenance.
In the Church Year
Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Proper 11
Suggested in the one-year series
- Trinity 9 (5×)
- Sexagesima (1×)
- St. Mary, Mother of Our Lord (1×)
- Trinity 17 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Proper 11 (3×)
- Proper 26 (2×)
- Proper 12 (1×)
- Proper 20 (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
A hymn on Luke 10:42, 'one thing is necessary,' by Johann Heinrich Schröder, a young pastor associated with the Halle Pietists, who died at 32. The 'one thing' is Christ. All else is a yoke that frets the heart (st. 1); turn to Jesus, in whom God and man are united (st. 2); see Mary at his feet (st. 3); let my longings rest on him (st. 4); in him is all wisdom (st. 5); I have nothing to offer but his blood, which defeated death and completed my righteousness (st. 6); so let him be all in all and root out hypocrisy (st. 7). Its long dactylic lines create a rushing, yearning effect. Stanza 6 is a strong statement of Christ's righteousness given to us.
Central theme: Christ as the one thing needful — the soul's only treasure, wisdom and righteousness
Structure
Seven eight-line stanzas (8.7.8.7 + 12.12.11.11), short trochaic lines followed by long dactylic ones. The problem (1) — the answer: Christ (2) — Mary's example (3) — longing and following (4) — wisdom (5) — righteousness (6) — prayer (7).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: the yoke of earthly things (1); hypocrisy to be rooted out (7). Gospel: God and man united in Christ (2); 'Thy death on the cross… my righteousness fully completed' (6).
Confessional Connections
The personal union of God and man in Christ as the source of the believer's fullness (st. 2; FC VIII). Christ's death completes our righteousness, which we receive as a garment (st. 6; FC III). Christ as wisdom (1 Cor 1:30). Pietist warmth here remains anchored in the Word ('spirit and life is Thy Word,' st. 4).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
General; Trinity season (Luke 10 in some lectionaries); devotional use; Bible classes.
Historical Notes
Schröder (1667-1699), pastor at Meseberg; the hymn appeared in Freylinghausen's circle (1697/1704). Cox (1812-1897) translated many German hymns.
About the Tune
EINS IST NOT (Halle tradition; TLH credits Friedrich Layriz, 1849).
Scripture References
Luke 10:38-42 Matt 11:28-30 Eccl 1:14 Col 2:9-10 John 6:63, 68 Col 2:3 1 Cor 1:30 1 Cor 2:2 Heb 2:14 Isa 61:10 Rev 7:14 2 Tim 2:12 Ps 139:23-24 Phil 3:7-8 Col 3:11
Stanza by Stanza
One thing is needful; Lord, teach me to value this treasure highly; everything else, though pleasing at first, is a yoke that presses hard. Under it the heart keeps fretting and striving, never gaining true lasting happiness. Gaining this one thing makes up for every loss and teaches me true delight in everything.
Luke 10:42. Everything other than Christ, sought as the heart's treasure, becomes 'a yoke that presses hard' — the restless striving of the human heart (Eccl 1:14; Augustine: 'our heart is restless until it rests in you'). Christ's yoke, by contrast, is easy (Matt 11:30). 'All loss can requite' — Phil 3:8.
- Scripture
- Luke 10:42, Eccl 1:14, Matt 11:28-30, Phil 3:8
- Imagery & language
- Treasure; yoke; fretting heart.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — the yoke of false treasures; Gospel — the one thing.
- Connection to previous
- The problem.
If you want to find this one thing needful, turn from created things to Jesus and attend to the blessed joy he brings; for where God and man are united in one, the heart rejoices in God's perfect fullness. There is the worthiest and best lot — my One, my All, my Joy, my Rest.
The one thing is found by turning 'from all created things unto Jesus.' The reason: 'where God and Man both in one are united' — the personal union. In Christ 'the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him' (Col 2:9-10). This is the Christological ground of Christian joy: God is not found by climbing beyond creation but in the God-man.
- Scripture
- Col 2:9-10, John 1:14-16, Ps 16:5-6, Ps 73:25-26
- Imagery & language
- Turning; God and man united.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — fullness in the God-man.
- Connection to previous
- The answer.
How devoted Mary's thoughts were to finding her eternal joy, as she noted each word, sitting at her Savior's feet! How her heart was kindled while hearing Christ's lessons! For Jesus she forgot all earthly concerns, and all was repaid in that one happy lot.
Mary of Bethany 'sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching' (Luke 10:39). Her 'one thing' was hearing his Word. Lutheran theology sees in Mary the model of faith that receives rather than achieves — in contrast to Martha's anxious serving. 'Kindled her heart' (Luke 24:32).
- Scripture
- Luke 10:39-42, Luke 24:32, Ps 27:4
- Imagery & language
- Mary at Jesus' feet.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — receiving the Word.
- Connection to previous
- Example.
So my heavenward longings rest on you alone, Jesus; help me depend on you; Savior, come and dwell in me. Though all the world forsake and forget you, I will follow you in love and never leave you. Lord Jesus, your Word is spirit and life; is there any joy you do not give?
Dependence and indwelling (John 14:23). 'Though all the world should forsake' — Peter's vow (Matt 26:33), here a prayer rather than boast. 'Spirit and life is Thy Word' — John 6:63, 68: 'You have the words of eternal life.' The Word is where Christ is found.
- Scripture
- John 14:23, John 6:63, 68, Matt 26:33, Ps 16:11
- Imagery & language
- Longings; indwelling; the Word.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — dependence on Christ and his Word.
- Connection to previous
- Longing.
Jesus, wisdom's highest treasure lies hidden in you; let this always be the measure of my will and actions, with humility and simplicity reigning, training my steps in true wisdom. If I have this divine knowledge of Christ, the fullness of heavenly wisdom is mine.
Col 2:3: 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' 1 Cor 1:30: Christ 'became to us wisdom from God.' Knowing Christ is the fullness of wisdom (1 Cor 2:2). Humility and simplicity are the shape of that wisdom, against worldly cleverness.
- Scripture
- Col 2:3, 1 Cor 1:30, 1 Cor 2:2, Jas 3:17, Matt 11:25
- Imagery & language
- Hidden treasure; wisdom.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ our wisdom.
- Connection to previous
- Wisdom.
I have nothing to offer, Christ, but you, my highest good; nothing to present, Lord, but your crimson blood. Your death on the cross completely defeated death and so fully completed my righteousness; there I received the white robes of salvation, and in them I will reign with you in glory.
The theological heart of the hymn. We bring nothing but Christ and his blood — the only plea before God (cf. 'Nothing in my hand I bring'). Christ's death 'hath Death wholly defeated' (Heb 2:14; 1 Cor 15:54-57) and 'my righteousness fully completed' — Christ's work is the whole of our righteousness (FC III). 'Salvation's white raiments' — Isa 61:10; Rev 7:14: righteousness given as a garment, not grown as a virtue. 'Reign' (2 Tim 2:12).
- Scripture
- Heb 2:14, 1 Cor 15:54-57, Rom 3:21-26, Isa 61:10, Rev 7:14, 2 Tim 2:12
- Imagery & language
- Nothing to offer; crimson blood; white raiment.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ's righteousness given.
- Connection to previous
- Righteousness.
So you alone, my Savior, shall be all in all to me; search my heart and my behavior and root out all hypocrisy. Keep me from wandering on unholy paths and keep my heart humble through life's pilgrimage. This one thing is needful; all else is vain; I count everything loss that I may gain Christ.
'All in all' (Col 3:11). 'Search my heart' (Ps 139:23-24). 'Root out all hypocrisy' — a Pietist concern for sincerity, framed as prayer rather than self-effort. The final couplet returns to Luke 10:42 and Phil 3:8: 'I count everything as loss… in order that I may gain Christ.'
- Scripture
- Col 3:11, Ps 139:23-24, Phil 3:7-8, Luke 10:42
- Imagery & language
- All in all; search; loss and gain.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel and sanctification.
- Connection to previous
- Concludes.
Themes
Devotion to Christ Single-minded faith Mary and Martha Spiritual priority Christ-centered life