Women of the Testaments – Steve Orr

Matters of the Heart

The Women of the Old Testament:

To put it mildly, overall, the Law of the Old Testament does not exactly treat women well. The exceptions are few. The curse of the domineering male from the fall in Eden not only continues through much of the Old Testament, but it also becomes a significant part of the Law.

Women were excluded from education, worship services, and public discourse; their rights were few, opportunities for personal advancement were nil at best.

Under the Law of Moses, the utter subjugation of women was intentional and enforced by the rule of law. As a result, women were less than second-class citizens.

Herod’s temple consisted of enforced segregation of the right to worship God. The court of the Gentiles was the lowest, completely outside the main temple area. A mere five steps above that was the Women’s Court. Fifteen steps above that was the Men’s Court, for Jewish men only. In that court, the men were a privileged class, enjoying many more privileges and opportunities than the women.

The male-dominated Jewish society during Jesus’ time had a low view of what we in our time often call “the fairer sex.” Women were not allowed to get an education. Their duties were relegated to cooking, keeping house, and raising children.

Jewish men had this daily prayer of thanksgiving:

· Praise God! I am not a Gentile;

· Praise God! I am an educated man;

· Praise God! I am not a woman.

For all practical purposes, Jewish women were publicly invisible. Young men were strictly warned against talking to a woman in public. It was considered shameful for a man to be seen talking to a woman in public. As a result, most women stayed away from the streets and used the back alleys.

Women were seen to be inferior to men in every way. Husbands owned their woman as if they were livestock, or worse yet, slaves.

Women were not given a say in who they could marry. Her father unilaterally determined her future mate for life, and she was stuck with him for life. By force of law, a woman could not divorce her husband, despite how horrible the circumstances she suffered under. Only a man could initiate a divorce.

This horrid behavior wasn’t exclusive to Jewish society. The domineering male, predicted by God as a consequence of the fall in Eden, held true for the vast majority of cultures around the world.

Then Jesus showed up…

The Women of the New Testament

I’ll set the context by quoting and paraphrasing just two scriptures:

“And the women also, which came with Him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how His body was laid (Luke 23:55).”

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:14)”

Please allow me to take the liberty of misquoting a familiar passage to make an important point…

“SHE who the Son sets free is free indeed!”

Metaphorically speaking, all the women who suffered under an Old Testament husband can kick that guy to the curb and become “The Bride of the Lamb!” (Men are also spiritual brides, but rest easy, guys, there is no “carnal knowledge” in this.)

Contrary to the culture in which he was born, in words and deeds, Jesus was pro-feminist.

But at the beginning of his ministry, even Jesus’ disciples were part of the male-dominated culture of their time. The twelve were shocked that Jesus spoke openly to a woman in a very public place (John 4:27). This woman was a divorcee several times over, then she gave up marriage altogether and “lived in sin.” As a Samaritan, she was considered even worse than a Gentile. See: How Expansive Is God’s Love?

It all began when God showed up and visited a humble woman. Scandalously, she became an unmarried, pregnant teen, and she was unashamed with Jesus in her womb and in her heart.

Her beloved son was a champion for women like herself.

Women were often the characters in Jesus’ parables and the biblical record, such as: the woman desperately looking for her lost coin; the woman who badgered the unjust judge until he gave in; the woman who gave all the money she had; Jesus healed the despised Canaanite woman who was demeaned as a dog and complimented her faith.

As discussed in the prior article, Jesus even became the defense attorney for a woman who committed a capital crime.

To make matters worse, Jesus hung out with the wrong crowd, having dinner with prostitutes and tax collectors, as if he wanted to stir up controversy.

Jesus also had dinner with Pharisees. During this dinner, a woman known to have been a (former) prostitute walked in, let down her hair, fell to her knees, and began pouring very expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet and washing them with her tears. She knew something that even the twelve did not know: this anointing was a preparation for Jesus dead body.

In addition to stirring up the pot with the self-righteous Pharisees, Jesus became a true revolutionary by including women in his ministry.

Along with “The Twelve” reference to the apostles were the women who were fellow disciples of Christ. The women handled the money and tended to the practical needs in their journey with Jesus and the twelve.

After the death sentence was given and the Romans rounded up Jesus, the twelve minus one traitor, ran for their lives. It was the women who walked with Jesus on the Via Dolorosa all the way to Golgatha. It was the women who remained at the foot of the cross along with Jesus’ mother and family. It was the women who endured the crucifixion, the entire horrific scene of a most sadistic form of torture. The “weaker sex” with tender hearts endured and wept over the sheer brutality of the moment for six very long hours. It was the women who tended to Jesus’ body in the tomb. And on a bright Sunday morning, it was the women who rose early to visit the tomb. Then, in the most glorious moment of all, the first in-person, eye-to-eye contact was with these same women.

Women in Ministry

After Jesus’ ascension, women were not merely passive observers; they were active leaders, teachers, patrons, and even apostles. The New Testament records several women by name who held significant ministerial roles.

Priscilla was a Teacher, Church Planter, and Co-Worker with Paul. She and her husband hosted a church in their homes in Rome, Ephesus, and Corinth. Priscilla’s name is often mentioned first, indicating that she may have been the primary teacher in their partnership. This was unusual for the patriarchal culture of the time.

Phoebe was commended for her leadership role by Paul to the church in Rome using the Greek word diakonos (deacon). Many scholars believe she carried Paul’s Letter to the church in Rome.

Junia was an ordained apostle, placing her in the highest tier of leadership in the early church. (See Romans 16:7)

Lydia was the first convert in Philippi and served as a patron church host. She was a dealer in the treasured purple cloth from Thyatira and was described as a woman of means who opened her home to Paul and his team.

Euodia and Syntyche are mentioned by Paul in Philippians 4 as Co-Workers in the gospel who “have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel” along with Clement and other fellow workers.

Nympha and Mary of Jerusalem: Nympha is mentioned in Colossians 4 as the church host in Laodicea. Mary, the mother of John Mark, hosted a church in Jerusalem.

In conclusion…

Thanks to all the ladies for your service in the way God so beautifully made your kind hearts.

Viva la Revolution!

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