MOTHER’S DAY
1. Some have argued that the bible demotes women.
2. More than one has said that God views women as second-class citizens, or:
3. God has given women a status that is unequal to men.
4. Women are of no more value or significance than slaves.
5. Though some have made these allegations, they are not true.
6. This morning we want to see how God portrays the female race in scripture.
7. We begin with the first book of the Bible.
8. The
second chapter of Genesis says that woman was made from a male rib (
9. God did not need to specify the body part but He did.
10. The body that part that God used appears to be symbolic.
11. Woman was not made from a man’s head (this would have suggested domination).
12. Neither was she made from his feet (this would have indicated inferiority).
13. Woman was taken from man’s side and this suggests equality, partnership, and sameness.
14. In the opening pages of the Bible God reveals that women are not 2d class citizens.
15. Other passages in the Bible stress this fact even more. Let’s look at some of them.
16. The next passage that is on my list is Judg. 4.
A. The
book of Judges describes people who helped the nation of
B. This book describes a period of time where there was a recurring cycle.
C. God’s people were good for a while and then became absorbed in sin.
D. Because of the sin God punished them, the people cried out for help, and then God delivered them.
E. The people lived good lives for a while but the cycle of sin started all over again.
F. One
of the people who helped
G. Here is what the Bible says about her. Verse 4.
H. Deborah was a prophetess. She was a prophetess for God.
I. She was a woman inspired by God to help God’s special people.
J. Some would have us believe that God appears to disdain women.
K. Women are unimportant in God’s plan and world.
L. The people who have these ideas did not get them from God or the Bible.
M. God’s word places women on a level that is equal to men.
N. This is even seen at the creation.
O. This is also seen in the Law of Moses.
P. In the past women like Deborah have occupied important positions with God’s approval.
i). This fact is especially interesting when we consider our day and time.
ii). Some act as if women have never been treated with respect.
iii). Women have never held a high position.
iv). The world has never listened to women.
v). Whatever problems ladies currently face, we can say this.
vi). When God was in control of things women were highly regarded.
vii). If ladies are no longer highly regarded, one of two things must be true.
viii). Either God has changed His attitude towards them,
ix). Or society has decided to abandon God’s way of living.
x). Additional references will show that God hasn’t changed.
xi). God treated women with respect and honor at the time of creation.
xii). He used a woman to help the nation of Israel.
xiii). Even before the Law of Moses came into effect women were viewed important.
xiv). Gen. 28:7 says that Jacob obeyed His Father and mother.
xv). If God considered only the male to be important why mention the woman?
xvi). Why say mom was obeyed if only dad counted?
xvii). The answer is that both counted under the Old Law and both continue to count.
xviii). There are differences but these differences do not make one more important than the other.
xix). Sometimes people try to cloud an issue.
xx). When it is said that women and men have different roles some object.
xxi). Some say that women should do everything that men do.
xxii). We do not need to do everything some else does to be equal.
xxiii). Men and women are equal but they do have different functions.
xxiv). When Paul dealt with this matter in 1 Cor. 12 he used the human body for an example.
xxv). He said, If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing”?
a). “If the whole [body] were hearing, where were the smelling”?
xxvi). Our body parts are different but all are needed, wanted, and appreciated.
xxvii). The same is true of men and women.
xxviii). There
are differences between the sexes just like there are differences between the
body
parts.
xxix). However, these differences do not mean inferiority, uselessness, or needlessness.
WOMEN WERE SO IMPORTANT THEY WERE PUT INTO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
17. Do we remember how Ex. 20:12 goes? READ.
A. God said to honor both parents. Women counted.
B. If we move over three chapters to Ex. 21:17 the importance of ladies is seen again.
i). This verse surely proves the value of women.
ii). If children cursed his father or mother the penalty was death.
iii). As impressive as these references are, another passage is even more revealing.
iv). This Old Testament passage is found in Lev. 19:3.
v). This is a great passage.
vi). Here is what Lev. 19:3 says.
vii). Mom is listed first. Why?
viii). In this culture mothers usually spent more time with their children.
ix). Perhaps, as the saying goes, familiarity breeds contempt.
x). In this text God put mothers first.
xi). When we can come to the Bible and find women mentioned before men…
xii). We cannot charge God with demeaning women or treating them as second-class citizens.
xiii). The more we search the more we find concerning the value and importance of women.
a). I heard a lot of grumbling this year about mother’s day.
b). A number of sources have said this day should be cancelled.
c). The main arguments are these:
d). Some did not have a mother so this day is painful for them.
e). Others had a bad mother and don’t need a reminder of the experience.
f). Some want to be a mother but cannot.
g). Others were mothers and don’t want to be reminded of the bad experiences.
h). These arguments may be applied to any holiday.
i). If these arguments have any merit we should cancel thanksgiving.
j). On Thanksgiving there are some people who are not too thankful.
k). Memorial Day is a painful day for others—with the logic used by some it should be ended.
l). Christmas should be taken off the calendar as well as New Years.
C. There is a time to recognize the importance and value of women and mothers.
D. Having a day to do this is appropriate.
E. Certainly studying information from God’s word about mothers and women is acceptable.
F. This type of study reveals many, many things.
G. Another scripture that relates to this matter is Ps. 35:14.
H. The Psalmist described a time of great grief.
I. He said that he grieved as if he had lost His mother.
J. Why didn’t the psalmist picture grief as crying over the departure of his father?
K. The text doesn’t say but the other references in this lesson give a pretty good clue.
18. The value of women also shines through in Isa. 66:1.3.
19. God spoke of a mother’s “comfort.”
A. If man is so high and mighty why didn’t God use the word father in Isa. 66:13?
B. Why not describe the coming comfort as “comfort from a father”?
C. The Old Testament repeatedly uplifts and exalts both women and mothers.
20. WHAT
WE FIND IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IS ALSO FOUND IN THE NEW.
A. The book of Genesis (the first bible book) introduces women in a wonderful way.
B. How does the New Testament begin? The opening pages are very similar.
C. There was a woman—who was young—and she was engaged. Her name was Mary.
D. This woman was chosen to be the instrument through which a saviour would come.
E. A single woman carried a child who would save the entire world from sin.
F. God put the salvation of the world into the hands of a woman.
G. Unless she gave birth early, Mary carried the Lord for 9 months.
H. She cared for Him during His infancy and gave Him a good home till He departed.
i). What act could promote womanhood to a greater degree?
ii). What could God have done to bestow a higher upon the female race?
iii). Lk. 1:28 says the woman Mary was “highly favored” by God.
iv). You might also take a look at Lk. 2:16 when you have a moment.
v). Shepherds came to see Mary and Joseph.
vi). The Bible lists Mary first.
vii). Women are important to God and they should be important to us.
I. Even at the close of Jesus’ life ladies are again brought into the spotlight.
J. Who came to the tomb first?
K. The answer is found in Mk. 16:1-3, and you will not find Peter’s name in the text until verse 7.
L. Even while on the cross women are presented as being significant.
M. This information is recorded in Jn. 19:26.
N. The unnamed disciple in this text may have been John.
O. Here is how the account reads. READ Jn. 19:26.
P. Jesus was on the cross. He had been beaten, He was bleeding, and He had collapsed.
Q. This was not the time to think about things that were petty and insignificant.
R. This was the time to deal with things that mattered.
S. With some of His final words and strength He forever he showed the importance of women.
T. His mother was too important to not help.
21. G. Campbell Morgan was a well known Bible teacher who authored many books.
22. He had four sons and each of these boys became preachers.
23. At a family reunion one of these sons was asked, “Which Morgan is the greatest preacher”?
24. The boy looked as his father and said, “Mother!”
25. To my knowledge that mom never stepped into the pulpit to preach.
26. She did realize her value and she affected the lives of many, many people.
27. Anyone who demeans women or alleges that the Bible does not give them equal rights or status is wrong.
28. There is equality, and with this equality comes a difference in our roles.
29. Men and women are different, but both are very valuable.
30. This value is seen in that Christ died for both.
31. One of the things men and women are equal in is the need for salvation. All sin.