martha Summary and Overview

bitterness, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, and probably the eldest of the family, who all resided at Bethany (Luke 10:38, 40, 41; John 11:1-39). From the residence being called "her house," some have supposed that she was a widow, and that her brother and sister lodged with her. She seems to have been of an anxious, bustling spirit, anxious to be helpful in providing the best things for the Master's use, in contrast to the quiet earnestness of Mary, who was more concerned to avail herself of the opportunity of sitting at his feet and learning of him. Afterwards at a supper given to Christ and his disciples in her house "Martha served." Nothing further is known of her. "Mary and Martha are representatives of two orders of human character. One was absorbed, preoccupied, abstracted; the other was concentrated and single-hearted. Her own world was the all of Martha; Christ was the first thought with Mary. To Martha life was 'a succession of particular businesses;' to Mary life 'was rather the flow of one spirit.' Martha was Petrine, Mary was Johannine. The one was a well-meaning, bustling busybody; the other was a reverent disciple, a wistful listener." Paul had such a picture as that of Martha in his mind when he spoke of serving the Lord "without distraction" (1 Cor. 7:35).

(a lady), the sister of Lazarus and Mary. [LAZARUS] The facts recorded in Luke 10 and John 11 indicate a character devout after the customary Jewish type of devotion, sharing in Messianic hopes and accepting Jesus as the Christ. When she first comes before us, #Lu 10:38| her spirit is "cumbered with much serving," is "careful and troubled about many things." Her love, though imperfect in its form, is yet recognized as true, and she has the distinction of being one whom Jesus loved. #Joh 11:5| Her position is obviously that of the elder sister the head and manager of the household. In the supper at Bethany #Joh 12:2| the old character shows itself still, but it has been freed from evil. She is no longer "cumbered," no longer impatient. Activity has been calmed by trust.

MAR'THA , the feminine form of an Aramaic word signifying "lord," "master," was the sister of Lazarus and Mary, and seems to have been the eldest of the family, as she is always mentioned before Mary and generally represented as the mistress of the house. She was more active in practical life than the younger sister, but lacked her concentration on the one thing needful; but she was, nevertheless, sincere, devoted, and beloved by Christ, John 11:5, and her energy, somewhat encumbered by the distractions of actual life, became at last concentrated in her faith in the Saviour. MAR'TYR occurs thrice in the N.T. Acts 22:20; Rev 2:13; Ex 17:6. In other places the Greek word of the text is rendered with "witness," Matt 18:16; Luke 24:48, which is its original meaning. It was not until after the apostolic age that the word came to denote a witness who seals his testimony with his blood, but in the above passages we may observe it in a state of transition.

Feminine of Maree, "Lord." (See LAZARUS.) Theophylact made her daughter of Simon the leper, others his wife or widow. The undesigned consistency of her character in Luke 10:38, etc., and John 11; 12, confirms the genuineness of both writings. Bethany was the home of Martha (probably the oldest), Mary, and Lazarus. Martha received Jesus into "her house" there. She was the one that kept the house, managed household affairs, and served (Luke 10:40). She "was distracted (periespato, 'cumbered') with much serving," whereas God's will is "that we attend upon the Lord without distraction" (aperispastos; 1 Corinthians 7:35). She loved Jesus, and it was to serve Him that she was so bustling. She was secretly vexed with herself as much as with Mary, that the latter enjoyed the privilege of hearing Jesus' word seated at His feet, while she could not persuade herself to do the same for fear that a varied enough repast should not be served up to Him. Martha came abruptly (epistasa) and said, "Lord, dost Thou not care (melei) that my sister hath left me (probably going into another apartment where Jesus was speaking) to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me." Jesus answered, cf6 "Martha, Martha (the repetition implies reproof), thou art careful (mentally solicitous, anxious with a divided mind, forbidden in Matthew 6:22-31; 1 Corinthians 7:32; merimnas, from merizoo "to 'divide' ") and troubled (bustling outwardly: turbazee) about many things (many dishes, in the present case, Bengel's Gnomon)". But one thing is needful (one dish in the primary sense, secondarily the one 'good portion'; Matthew 6:22; Philemon 3:13; John 6:53; John 6:27), and Mary hath chosen that good portion," etc. Much serving has its right place and time (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Timothy 5:14), but ought to give place to hearing when Jesus speaks, for faith whereby the good and abiding portion is gained cometh by hearing (Romans 10:17). (On her conduct at the raising of her brother (See LAZARUS.) "Martha served" at the supper where the raised Lazarus was and where Mary anointed Jesus' feet. Her work is the same, but her spirit in it blessedly changed; no longer "distracted" with much serving, nor mentally anxious and outwardly bustling, but calm, trustful, and sympathizing by silent acquiescence in her sister's act of love (John 12:2).