Martha

Lore & Background

Martha first appears when Jesus enters a certain village, and she receives him into her house (Luke 10:38). While serving, she becomes distracted and asks Jesus to tell her sister Mary to help her, but Jesus gently notes that she is troubled about many things (Luke 10:40-41). In the Gospel of John, Martha is identified as the sister of Lazarus, who lived in Bethany (John 11:1). When Lazarus falls ill and dies, many Jews come to comfort Martha and Mary (John 11:19). Upon hearing that Jesus is coming, Martha goes out to meet him while Mary stays in the house (John 11:20). She expresses faith that if Jesus had been present, her brother would not have died, and she affirms her belief in the resurrection at the last day (John 11:21, John 11:24). Later, at the tomb, Martha objects to removing the stone because of the odor after four days (John 11:39). After Lazarus is raised, Martha serves at a supper made for Jesus (John 12:2).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray Martha as a hospitable and service-oriented woman who is also outspoken and practical. In Luke, she is busy serving and directly asks Jesus to intervene with her sister (Luke 10:40). Jesus responds with a gentle correction about being anxious (Luke 10:41). In John, Martha takes initiative by going to meet Jesus when she hears he is coming (John 11:20). She speaks her mind about her brother's death and her belief in the resurrection (John 11:21, John 11:24). Yet she also shows a practical, even skeptical side when she warns about the smell of the dead body (John 11:39). Jesus loved her and her siblings (John 11:5), and she continues to serve after Lazarus is raised (John 12:2). The passages do not indicate whether her service or her faith is more valued; both are presented without explicit judgment.

Did You Know?

• Martha is the only person in these passages who directly asks Jesus to command her sister to help her (Luke 10:40).
• Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and her brother Lazarus (John 11:5).
• Martha went out to meet Jesus while Mary stayed in the house (John 11:20).
• Martha objected to removing the stone from Lazarus's tomb because of the odor after four days (John 11:39).

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table." — Martha "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." — Martha "Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about [a]two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother." — Martha "Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled." — Martha