What can you learn from Martha and Mary?

Answer 1

Luke and John are the only gospels that mention sisters called Mary and Martha, and the only gospels that mention Lazarus. Luke contains a brief story of Jesus visiting the sisters, while Lazarus is in a quite separate parable that mentions his resurrection hypothetically. John wrote an important episode, in which Jesus visited the sisters, Mary and Martha, and resurrected their dead brother, Lazarus.

The moral that seems to be taken from Luke's Mary and Martha is that hearing the word of Jesus should take precedence over other duties and responsibilities (Luke 10:38-41):

"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. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 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. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

The moral that seems to be taken from John's Mary and Martha is that they believed in the healing power of Jesus (John 11:20-1) :

"Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." (John 11:32) "Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."