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People of the Bible
Who Was Martha in the Bible?
In short
Martha was a friend of Jesus and the sister of Mary and Lazarus, who often welcomed Jesus into her home. She is remembered for her busy, distracted serving, and Jesus' gentle reminder to choose the one thing needed.
Yet Martha also made one of the greatest confessions of faith in the Gospels: that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
“She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
John 11:27 · King James Version (public domain)
Martha at a glance
| Name | Martha |
|---|---|
| Where to read about them | The Gospels |
| Key passage on this page | John 11:27 |
| Passages linked to that verse | 10 |
| Translation on this page | King James Version (public domain) |
Read it in context
Read it beside its neighbours. These are the passages readers most often set next to this one.
- Matthew 16:16
- John 6:69
- John 6:14
- Malachi 3:1
- 1 John 5:1
- Luke 2:11
- 1 John 5:20
- 1 Timothy 1:15-16
- Luke 7:19-20
- John 20:28-31
Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY.
Questions people ask
Where can I read about Martha in the Bible?
Martha appears in The Gospels. Start with the key passage on this page, then read the whole chapter around it.
What other passages sit beside John 11:27?
Readers most often set it next to Matthew 16:16, John 6:69, John 6:14, Malachi 3:1.
Why does Martha matter to Christians today?
Because the story of Martha is told to point to Christ and to teach us to love one another. Read it as part of the one story of Scripture, not as a stand-alone biography.
Pray this
Lord Jesus, you see Martha and you know every person there by name. We bring you Martha, The Gospels. Make us people who love one another there. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Live this
Where to begin this week.
- Read the key passage, John 11:27, aloud once today.
- Write one sentence about what Martha's story says about God, not only about Martha.
- Tell one person what you noticed, and ask what Bible story has stayed with them.
Where this fits in the walk with Christ
Nothing here is a finish line. It is one door into a life with Christ and with His people.
Read the story of Martha
You can read the story of Martha in The Gospels on The Living Bread, free, with audio, and with Simon to answer your questions along the way.
