Women of the Bible


Lesson Six

 

THE RELATIONSHIP OF JESUS TO WOMEN

 

KEY VERSE:

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the same is
my brother and sister and mother. (Matthew 12:50)


INTRODUCTION

In this chapter you will study the relationship of Jesus Christ to women. In the next
chapter, you will expand upon the general background gained in this chapter to study all
Jesus communicated to and about women.

 

In the personality of God, there is a blend of the characteristics of both father and mother.
The Old Testament pictures motherhood when Isaiah records God's words:

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion
on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
(Isaiah 49:15)

 

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you. (Isaiah 66:13)

Jesus reflected a mother's instinct when He said:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.
(Matthew 23:37)

 

The teaching of Christ was "sexless" because nowhere does He give instructions

applicable to women only. There are only a few instructions to His disciples which apply
to men alone. (For examples, see Matthew 5:28,32 and 23:8.)

 

WOMEN AND DISCIPLESHIP

Christ included women in His teaching. In Mark 7:10-11 He spoke of honoring parents,
and repeated the words "father" and "mother" four times in two verses. There was a
Greek word for "parents" which He could have used, but He apparently wanted to
emphasize that both mother and father be honored equally.

When Jesus spoke regarding discipleship, He included the females:

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather
division...The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father;
the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother;
the mother-in-law against her daughter in law. (Luke 12:51,53)

Another passage regarding discipleship includes a reference to women:

There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or
mother, or wife, or children ...for my sake and the gospel's, but he shall
receive an hundred fold...houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and
children. (Mark 10:29-30)

 

On one occasion, when Jesus was speaking to a crowd, His mother and brothers came
looking for Him. When told they were seeking Him, Jesus said:

Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his
hand toward his disciples and said, Behold my mother and my brethren. For
whosoever shall do the will of my Father...the same is my brother, and sister,
and mother. (Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35)

 

This verse presents an important truth regarding your relationship to Jesus. Your
relationship is not based on whether you are male or female, young or old, married or
single. Your relationship is based upon doing God's will. Part of "doing God's will" is
accepting Jesus as personal Savior, as God is...

...not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(II Peter 3:9)


DEFENSE OF WOMEN

On two occasions, Jesus defended women. When some mothers brought their children to
Jesus to be blessed, the Disciples rebuked them but Jesus said:

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is
the Kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)

When Mary of Bethany poured costly perfume on Jesus, the Disciples called it a waste.
Jesus said her act would be told as a memorial wherever the Gospel was preached because
she understood the plan for His death and burial and was anointing Him in preparation for
it.

 

WOMEN IN THE COMPANY OF CHRIST

Christ did not call a woman as one of the twelve disciples selected at the beginning of His
public ministry. To have chosen a woman for such close association would not have been
considered proper. The Bible does refer to certain women who joined the traveling
company of Jesus to minister:

 

It came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village,
preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God; and the
twelve were with him.

 

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife
of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered
unto him of their substance. (Luke 8:1-3)

 

Some people believe because Christ did not call any women among the original twelve,
there should be no women leaders in the Church. But He also did not choose a Gentile,
yet the Gospel was extended to the Gentiles and we have had many great Gentile spiritual
leaders. He did not organize anything resembling most Churches today, with one pastor
trained in a seminary, Sunday schools, Church boards, etc., yet we freely use these in our
Church structure.

 

THE COURTESY OF CHRIST

Christ was always courteous to women. He never talked down or spoke angrily to them.
At the age of twelve, Jesus went with his parents to a Passover Feast in Jerusalem. At the
end of the first day of the return journey home, His parents could not find Him in the
caravan, so they returned to the city. Finally, they found Him with the religious leaders in
the temple. When His mother rebuked Him, His response was a simple explanation and


then He went home with His parents and was subject (obedient) to them (Luke 2).

One occasion where Jesus spoke with what might appear to be a lack of courtesy was at
the wedding in Cana. When the host ran out of wine, Jesus's mother told Him and His
answer was:

 

Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.
(John 2:4)

 

This did not mean He did not respect the suggestion that He do something about the
problem. The term "woman" was not one of disrespect. In the proper timing, Jesus did
what Mary desired and miraculously turned water into wine. Mary was not offended at
His answer, but told the servants:

 

Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. (John 2:5)

When the mother of James and John came to Jesus with the selfish request that her sons
be seated at His right and left sides in the Kingdom of Heaven, He did not rebuke her. He
replied:

 

Ye know not what ye ask..to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine
to give, but it shall be given to them for whom prepared of my Father.
(Matthew 20:20-23)

 

Read Matthew 15:21-28 where a Gentile woman asked for her daughter to be healed.
Christ's answer did not reflect discourtesy because the word "dog" was a commonly used
term referencing the Gentiles.* The exchange with this woman ended in Christ's highest
commendation, "O woman, great is thy faith.”

There are three incidents recorded in Scripture where Jesus ministered to adulteresses.
Look these up and read them in your Bible:


John 8:2-11 The woman caught in adultery.

Luke 7:38-39: The adulteress washing Jesus feet.
John 4:5-30: The woman at the well.


In each case, Jesus displayed courtesy, love, and a forgiving attitude.

The encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well is interesting in studying the
relationship of Jesus to women. The Samaritans were enemies of the Jews and were
considered uneducated and offensive. In addition, this women was an adulteress.

The word "Gentile" refers to nations other than Israel.

 

But Jesus chose this woman, a Gentile and a sinner, as the first person (as far as Scripture
records) to whom He revealed that He was the Messiah. He considered her capable of
grasping this great spiritual truth. She became an evangelist instantly and ran to the city
to bring people to Christ. The result was...

 

...they besought Him that He would tarry with them; and He abode there two
days. And many more believed because of His own. (John4:41-42)

During a visit in the home of Mary and Martha, Martha was upset because of all the
household chores. She complained because Mary did nothing but sit at the feet of Jesus.
Instead of rebuking her, Jesus answered:

 

Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.
But...Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from
her. (Luke 10:41)

 

When a poor widow put two mites in the offering box, Jesus courteously commended the
small donation. He said:

 

This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the
treasury; for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did
cast in all she had. (Mark 12:43-44)

 

The Gospels show that Jesus regarded women as worth communicating with, capable of
grasping deep spiritual truths, exercising great faith, and setting standards of sacrificial
giving.

 

COMPASSION ON WOMEN

A special characteristic of Christ's attitude toward women was compassion. When He
raised the son of the widow of Nain from the dead, He appears to have done it primarily
out of compassion for her:

 

And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said unto her,
weep not. (Luke 7:13)

 

It was His compassion for widows which aroused His anger against those who prayed for
public show and then stole widow's houses:

Beware of the scribes....which devour widows houses, and for a shew make
long prayers. (Luke 20:46-47)

When He fed the multitudes, which included women, it was because He had compassion


on them. Read these accounts in Mark 6 (noting verse 34) and Mark 8 (noting verse 2).

When Jesus spoke of the future destruction of Jerusalem, He added this compassionate
warning:

 

Woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days.
And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. (Mark 13:17-18)

When Jesus was on the way to Golgotha carrying the cross, there were many women in
the crowd around the soldiers and prisoners. These women were mourning for Him. His
concern was more for them than for Himself. He said:

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for
your children.

 

For behold, the days are coming in which they will say, Blessed are the
barren, and the womb that never bare, and the paps that never gave suck.
(Luke 23:28-29)

 

Right to the end of His earthly ministry, in the midst of His own suffering, His
compassion and concern for women never failed.

 

 

 

Answer the questions below.  If you miss a question, go back and study that portion of the class and then retake the test.  Once you have received a 100% you may proceed to the next class.  You DO NOT have to submit this test for grading.  Only the final test will be submitted.