📖 Biblical Definition
Mary of Bethany was the sister of Lazarus and Martha and a personal friend of Jesus. She is shown three times in the Gospels: sitting at the Lord's feet while Martha served, falling at His feet weeping when Lazarus died, and anointing His feet with costly ointment six days before the Passover. Each scene places her at His feet; Jesus says of her last act, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached... there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Sister of Lazarus and Martha; thrice shown at the feet of Jesus; anointer of His feet for burial (Jn 12).
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Three scenes: Luke 10:38-42 (sitting at His feet to learn), John 11:32 (falling at His feet at Lazarus's tomb), John 12:1-8 (anointing His feet with the spikenard).
Distinct from Mary Magdalene and from the unnamed sinful woman of Luke 7. Christ's commendation in Matthew 26:13 attaches to her wherever the gospel is preached — one of His most extravagant promises.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 10:39 — "And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word."
Luke 10:42 — "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
John 11:32 — "Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet."
John 12:3 — "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
We celebrate Martha's service and forget that Christ said Mary chose the better thing; we admire generosity and forget how extravagant her anointing was.
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Luke 10:42 is one of the New Testament's most pastorally needed sentences: Mary hath chosen that good part. Service is good; sitting at the Lord's feet is better. Christ does not condemn Martha; He simply re-orders the priorities.
John 12's anointing was extravagant — a year's wages of perfume poured out in one act. Judas called it waste. Christ called it preparation for burial and promised her memory would be told wherever the gospel is preached. He has kept the promise.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Same first name as her village namesake; same root as the other Marys.
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Hebrew Miryam — bitter or beloved.
Bethany — ‘house of figs’ or ‘house of misery’; village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, two miles from Jerusalem.
Usage
"Mary chose the good part — Christ said so."
"Wherever the gospel is preached, this woman's anointing is told."
"Three scenes, three times at His feet — the discipline of the disciple."