Bible Questions and Answers

Was Mary Magdalene the sister of Martha?

No – Mary Magdalene and Mary the sister of Martha were different people.

There are six women called Mary in the New Testament.

From Easton’s revised Bible Dictionary:

Mary - Hebrew Miriam.

1. Mary the wife of Joseph, the mother of Jesus, called the "Virgin Mary," though never so designated in Scripture Matthew 2:11; Acts 1:14. Little is known of her personal history. Her genealogy is given in Luke 3:1 and following verses. She was of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David Psalm 132:11; Luke 1:32 She was connected by marriage with Elisabeth, who was of the lineage of Aaron Luke 1:36 While she resided at Nazareth with her parents, before she became the wife of Joseph, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah Luke 1:35
2. Mary Magdalene, i.e., Mary of Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Lake of Tiberias. She is for the first time noticed in Luke 8:2 as one of the women who "ministered to Christ of their substance." Their motive was that of gratitude for deliverances he had wrought for them. Out of Mary were cast seven demons. Gratitude to her great Deliverer prompted her to become his follower. These women accompanied him also on his last journey to Jerusalem Matthew 27:55; Makr 15:41, Luke 23:55. They stood near the cross. There Mary remained till all was over, and the body was taken down and laid in Joseph’s tomb. Again, in the earliest dawn of the first day of the week she, with Salome and Mary the mother of James Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1 came to the sepulchre, bringing with them sweet spices, that they might anoint the body of Jesus. They found the sepulchre empty, but saw the "vision of angels" Matthew 28:5. She hastens to tell Peter and John, who were probably living together at this time John 20:1,2 and again immediately returns to the sepulchre. There she lingers thoughtfully, weeping at the door of the tomb. The risen Lord appears to her, but at first she knows him not. His utterance of her name "Mary" recalls her to consciousness, and she utters the joyful, reverent cry, "Rabboni." She would fain cling to him, but he forbids her, saying, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father." This is the last record regarding Mary of Magdala, who now returned to Jerusalem. The idea that this Mary was "the woman who was a sinner," or that she was unchaste, is altogether groundless.
3. Mary the sister of Lazarus is brought to our notice in connection with the visits of our Lord to Bethany. She is contrasted with her sister Martha, who was "cumbered about many things" while Jesus was their guest, while Mary had chosen "the good part." Her character also appears in connection with the death of her brother John 11:20,31,33 On the occasion of our Lord’s last visit to Bethany, Mary brought "a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus" as he reclined at table in the house of one Simon, who had been a leper Matthew 26:6; Mark 14:3; John 12:2,3 This was an evidence of her overflowing love to the Lord. Nothing is known of her subsequent history. It would appear from this act of Mary’s, and from the circumstance that they possessed a family vault John 11:38 and that a large number of Jews from Jerusalem came to condole with them on the death of Lazarus John 11:19 that this family at Bethany belonged to the wealthier class of the people.
4. Mary the wife of Cleopas is mentioned John 19:25 as standing at the cross in company with Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Jesus. By comparing Matthew 27:56 Mr 15:40 we find that this Mary and "Mary the mother of James the little" are one and the same person, and that she was the sister of our Lord’s mother. She was that "other Mary" who was present with Mary of Magdala at the burial of our Lord Matthew 27:61 Mark 15:47 and she was one of those who went early in the morning of the first day of the week to anoint the body, and thus became one of the first witnesses of the resurrection Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1
5. Mary the mother of John Mark was one of the earliest of our Lord’s disciples. She was the sister of Barnabas Colossians 4:10 and joined with him in disposing of their land and giving the proceeds of the sale into the treasury of the Church Acts 4:37; 12:12 Her house in Jerusalem was the common meeting-place for the disciples there.
6. Mary - A Christian at Rome who treated Paul with special kindness Romans 16:6

I hope this helps.

God bless,

Glenn