Dear Student of the Word,
This is the next to last study in Matthew, which we began last January. I have learned so much about this gospel, which has become my favorite of the four over time. Of course, they are all great reading, with different objectives in mind for each. This week we finish the crucifixion account, which of course ends in Jesus' death. This week I wrote for one day this week:
v. 55 – Not many of Jesus’ male disciples were present, but many of the women disciples were. Jesus had a great impact on women and they were loyal to Him until the end, standing by and watching His suffering. Are you loyal to Jesus no matter how it affects you? Do you stand by Him even when others mock Him? I hope so. These women had come from Galilee, to help take care of Jesus’ needs while He traveled and ministered. The women were away from home while in Jerusalem, but undoubtedly had friends and family there. Yet Galilee is a two-hour drive away from Jerusalem today, so it was a long journey for them back then. What price are you paying to follow Jesus and take care of His people?
v. 56 – Three women are mentioned by name. I wonder why Matthew did this? Were these woman well-known among his readers so that by mentioning them he would increase the account’s credibility? I am not sure, but I know that I am impressed with the commitment and loyalty of the women in the face of danger to anyone aligning themselves with Jesus in that hour. The men had fled for the most part, but the women stayed close until the end.
William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, once said, “Some of my best men are women!” He often sent women to troubled inner city areas where they had greater ministry success than men. I have often said that the church in many instances is trying to achieve its mission with one arm tied behind its back and with only half its gift base due to the restrictions on women in ministry.
What is your viewpoint on women in ministry? What is the basis for your view? What roles can women play in the church and in building the Kingdom? How can we more effectively involve women in the work of the ministry?
As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. You can write them or find the studies to Corinthians, First Timothy and Mark's gospel on the site where this week's entry is posted. You can also go there to sign up to receive each week's study.
Plus my website archives contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished Faith Files.
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