Facts About Mary and Martha: True or False? Quiz

Answer: True

True. According to John 11:1, they lived in Bethany and Lazarus was their brother. Bethany was a small community, just outside of Jerusalem. According to Luke 24:50-51, it was in the vicinity of Bethany that Jesus ascended into Heaven after His crucifixion.

Answer: False

False. It was Mary who anointed Jesus with the perfume, or costly oil. John 12:3, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil." Verses 4 and 5 go on to state Judas Iscariot was indignant at the display of affection, stating the perfume could have been sold and given to the poor.

However, John, the writer of the Gospel, states in the next verse that Judas didn't care about the poor, and that he "was a thief" who was in charge of Christ's "money box" and would often steal the offerings.

Answer: False

False. It was Martha who became upset with her sister Mary, who, according to Scripture, was listening to Jesus and not helping her sister with household chores. Luke 10:38-42, in the NKJV Bible, tells of the incident: "Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.' And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'"

The account of Mary and Martha appears just after the Parable of the Good Samaritan, one of Christ's most famous parables.

Answer: True

Yes, Martha was the one that went out to greet Jesus while Mary was the one who stayed at home. One would think it would be other way around. After all, Mary was the type who listened carefully to Jesus and anointed him with expensive perfume. However, Martha was the one to venture out of the house to meet with Jesus after the death of her brother Lazarus. John 11:20, in the NKJV, states: "Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house."

Answer: True

True. Both of them made such a statement. John 11:21 states: "Now Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died'." Meanwhile John 11:32 states: "Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, 'Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died'." In other words, they're almost indirectly blaming Jesus for the death of their brother.

Answer: True

The NKJV Bible quotes Martha, saying, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Remember his body was in a tomb in the hot Mediterranean sun. It wouldn't be a case of rigor mortis having set in, it would be a case of decaying flesh. The smell would be repugnant. In other words, the brother of Mary and Martha was a stinking corpse!

Answer: True

True. John 11:5 states Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.

Scripture also states others were very much aware of how much Jesus loved the trio. John 11:35 tells of Jesus weeping over the grief of Mary and Martha with verse 36 quoting some of the onlookers as saying "see how He loved him!"

Answer: False

False. There is no indication of this in Scripture. In fact, Scripture doesn't give any details about the reaction of the onlookers. However, they must've been amazed and totally ecstatic. And yes, it's possible, someone might have fainted, but there is no indication of such an event taking place.

Answer: False

False. They are not mentioned in Acts. In fact, the sisters are only mentioned by name in two Gospels -- Luke and John. Details appear in the 26th chapter of Matthew and the 14th chapter of Mark about Jesus being anointed with expensive perfume; however, Mary and Martha are not mentioned by name in those places.

However, it is widely believed the accounts in Matthew and Mark are referring to Mary.

Answer: False

False. There is no indication of this in Scripture, although it is possible. According to 1 Corinthians 15:5, Christ appeared to "over five hundred brethren at once" after His resurrection. The correct, answer, however, has to be false.

Feel free to play a related quiz I have posted at FunTrivia. It's called 'Lazarus -- A Decaying Corpse Rises from Dead'.