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Mary and Martha's Different Responses to Jesus

The Biblical Account of Mary and Martha's Responses to Jesus

The story of Mary and Martha is recorded in the Gospels of Luke and John. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus visits the home of Martha, where she is busy preparing a meal while her sister Mary sits at Jesus' feet, listening to him. Martha complains to Jesus that Mary is not helping her, but Jesus responds by saying, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen that good portion, which will not be taken away from her" [2].

In John 11:1-44, the story is continued as Jesus raises their brother Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus arrives, Martha goes out to meet him, while Mary stays at home. Martha expresses her faith in Jesus, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" [1, 9].

Characterizations of Mary and Martha

The two sisters are often seen as embodying different approaches to faith and discipleship. Martha is characterized as being busy and anxious, while Mary is depicted as being contemplative and focused on Jesus [3, 4]. According to Smith's Bible Dictionary, Martha's "spirit is 'cumbered with much serving,' is 'careful and troubled about many things'" [3]. In contrast, Mary's "grief was deeper, but less active. Her first thought, when she saw the Teacher in whose power and love she trusted, was one of complaint" [5].

Interpretations of the Sisters' Responses

The early Church Fathers saw the story of Mary and Martha as having spiritual significance. Origen interpreted the story as contrasting the active and contemplative lives, with Mary representing the contemplative life [7]. Augustine also saw the story as highlighting the importance of prioritizing one's relationship with God, noting that "what is sought is one thing" [8].

Reformed interpreters, such as John Calvin, have also seen the story as emphasizing the importance of faith and trust in Jesus. Calvin notes that Martha's faith is evident in her statement to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" [11].

Theological Significance

The story of Mary and Martha has been interpreted in various ways across different Christian traditions. The Catholic Church has seen the story as highlighting the importance of contemplation and the value of prioritizing one's relationship with God [10]. In contrast, some Protestant traditions have emphasized the importance of faith and trust in Jesus, as exemplified by Martha's statement [9].

The Lutheran tradition, as represented by Luther's Small Catechism, emphasizes the importance of faith in Jesus Christ, which is reflected in Martha's expression of faith [12]. The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as represented by John Chrysostom, sees the story as highlighting the importance of hospitality and the need to balance action and contemplation [6].

Conclusion

The story of Mary and Martha continues to be a rich source of theological reflection and interpretation across different Christian traditions. While the sisters' responses to Jesus are often seen as embodying different approaches to faith and discipleship, their stories also highlight the importance of prioritizing one's relationship with God and trusting in Jesus. As the biblical account and various interpretations demonstrate, the story remains a powerful reminder of the need to balance action and contemplation in the life of faith.

Sources

  1. John “John 11:20 (BSB) — So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him; but Mary stayed at home.”
  2. Luke “Luke 10:41 (LITV) — But answering Jesus said to her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Martha — (a lady), the sister of Lazarus and Mary. [[845]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, (Luke 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. (John 11:5) Her position is obviously that of the elder sister the head”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Martha — 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. Afterw”
  5. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Mary, Sister Of Lazarus — She and her sister Martha appear in (Luke 10:40) as receiving Christ in their house. Mary sat listening eagerly for every word that fell from the divine Teacher. She had chosen that good part, the "one thing needful." The same character shows itself in the history of (John 11:1) ... Her grief was deeper, but less active. Her first thought, when she saw the Teacher in whose power and love she that trusted, was one of complaint. But the great joy and love which her brother's return to life called up in her poured themselves out in larger measur”
  6. CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: the grievous nature of the calamity, or that they respected them as of superior birth, or else these who came were not the wicked sort, many at least even of them believed. The Evangelist mentions these circumstances, to prove that Lazarus was really dead. [3.] But why did not [Martha,] when she went to meet Christ, 1686 1686 ver. 20 . “Then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary sat in the house.” take her sister with her? She desired to meet with Him apart, and to tell Him what had taken place. But when He had bro”
  7. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — SECTION XIII. (part 3): the feet of our Lord, 33 and heard his sayings. But Martha was disquieted by much serving; and she came and said unto him, My Lord, givest thou no heed that my sister left me alone to 34 serve? speak to her that she help me. Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, 35 Martha, thou art solicitous and impatient(7) on account of many things: but what is sought is one thing. But Mary hath chosen for herself a good portion, and that which shall not be taken from her. 36 And the apostles went forth, and preache”
  8. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XI. 1--54. (part 12): shall not covet thy neighbor's wife."(2) Here you have the written law, and it also is despised: this is the third day of death. What remains? The gospel also comes, the kingdom of heaven is preached, Christ is everywhere published; He threatens hell, He promises eternal life; and that also is despised. Men transgress the gospel; and this is the fourth day of death. Now he deservedly stinketh. But is mercy to be denied to such? God forbid; for to raise such also from the dead, the Lord thinks it not unfitting to come. 13”
  9. John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 11:21: 11:21 Lord, if only you had been here: Mary later repeated Martha’s words (11:32), because both sisters knew Jesus’ reputation as a healer. They concluded that Jesus would have healed Lazarus, but they did not imagine that Jesus would restore him from death.”
  10. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, CHAPTER THREE (part 2): "received divine approval".10 Yet "God had foreseen something better for us": the grace of believing in his Son Jesus, "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith".11 Mary - "Blessed is she who believed" 148 The Virgin Mary most perfectly embodies the obedience of faith. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that "with God nothing will be impossible" and so giving her assent: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word."12 Elizabeth greeted her: "Bless”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 109: 4:5-6 4:6 4:11 4:12 4:18 Colossians 1:2-3 1:4 1:5 1:5 1:9-10 1:12 1:13 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:14 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:15 1:16 1:16 1:16-18 1:17 1:18 1:19-20 1:20 1:20 1:21 1:21-22 1:24 1:24 1:26 1:26 1:26 2:2 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:3 2:10 2:11 2:12 2:12 2:13-14 2:14 2:14 2:14-15 2:16 2:16-17 2:17 2:17 2:17 2:19 2:20 2:20-21 2:23 2:23 3:1 3:1 3:1-2 3:2 3:3 3:3 3:4 3:5 3:6 3:10 3:10 3:11 3:14 3:14 3:14 3:16 3:19 3:24 3:25 4:3 4:17 1 Thessalonians 1:5 2:13 2:18 2:20 3:5 3:12 3:13 4:3 4:4 4:5 4:7 4:7 4:15 4:16 4:16 4:16-17 5:2 5:9 5:17-18 5:19 ”
  12. Luther's Small Catechism (Lutheran) “Luther's Small Catechism (Lutheran, 1529), –Answer: 2cI believe that: –Answer: 2cI believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and ble”
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