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).
- Luke.10: Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
- Luke.10: But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
- Luke.10: And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
- John.11: Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
- John.11: Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
- John.11: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
- John.11: Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
- John.11: Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
- John.11: Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
- John.11: Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
- John.11: Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
- John.12: There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.