We can find in the Bible the perfect example of how women should be treated. Through His various encounters with women, Jesus demonstrated how God wanted women to be honored and cared for. My dear lady, let me show you some of Jesus’ great acts of love which were recorded in the Bible so we can learn their great lessons for our own lives.

The Adulterous Woman

We can start with this famous story of a woman caught in adultery. The Jews intended to stone her according to their laws; but first they brought her to Christ. They wanted to test Him and see what His judgment would be, because he always taught about love and forgiveness. How far would his forgiveness extend?

John 8:2-11 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last one. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

I wonder about these men, bringing this woman for judgment without also bringing the man with whom she had committed this terrible act. It shows their hypocrisy and cruelty. It is sad to say that many men today walk in the same hypocrisy—holding only the woman guilty when there has been adultery and fornication, while the man is held guiltless. Man is apparently infallible when it comes to such shameful acts. Jesus wanted to teach those men an unforgettable lesson, when He said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Perhaps He was writing their sins on the ground, because He knows everything about man, for He is all-knowing. Or maybe He was writing the commandments of God regarding love, forgiveness, purity, and the requirements of the law for obedience to these commandments.

I believe deeply that women have many rights, being equal before God with men. The most important of these rights is to have access to knowledge of the word of God and to know the commandments and teachings concerning spiritual matters that God has appointed for all people. Although some think that woman does not have the right to know, or even ask a question, about spiritual matters, how does this make sense? Many men do not know the first thing about spiritual matters, although they like to give the appearance that they have knowledge. Both men and women, however, must answer to God. Moreover, a woman must be able to teach her sons and daughters the ways of truth, leading them away from false teaching and empty superstitions. Therefore, I exhort you, my dear lady, to study and search out these most important truths. This can only be accomplished by studying the Word of God, the Bible, and taking hold of His teachings for yourself. The prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6.

The Sanctity of Marriage

Marriage in Christianity is a contract between two parties, sealed and notarized with the seal of God. It is a powerful bond that is not to be broken or abolished for some selfish whim or fancy, or ended suddenly in the heat of a crisis.

“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled.” Hebrews 13:4 A wife, in the eyes of Christ, is a holy being. She is not for sale or purchase. Nor is she to be swapped for another wife upon a simple word from the mouth of the husband in one of his many moments of anger. To be sure, we know the pressures of life are a heavy weight upon him. But such a rash act as to put away his wife in his fit of anger is totally wrong, and goes against the justice and righteousness of heaven. It is tragic that certain religious teachings have given this power to man, without right, because they do not acknowledge the sanctity of the woman and the honor due her. Such practices are rejected by civilized nations.

The great error of these doctrines has resulted in a deep void in the marriage relationship. A continuous struggle is wrought between the man, who is holding to an authority that was given to him unjustly, and the woman, who is searching for a place in her husband’s heart, surrounded by a family and society that does not even acknowledge her humanity. She cries from her heart, “I need an answer!”

We cry with her and wonder, what is the remedy for such a deep gulf between a husband and wife? How can God’s perfect plan be restored? To put things in their right order, we will deal with this question in the last chapter, and see that there is a path to restoration. First, let us continue with Christ’s teachings about marriage and make note of some of His other interactions with women.

Marriage and Divorce

Matthew 19:3-9 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”

Adultery

Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Woman Healed of Bleeding

Mark 5:25-29, 33-34 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. … The woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

Queen of Sheba (Yemen)

Matthew 12:42 “The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon…”

Christ apparently did not oppose that a woman was such a great leader, and He exalted her for her search for wisdom.

Healing of a Canaanite Girl

Matthew 15:21-22, 28 And Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan (Phoenicia/Syria) came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” …Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Healing of Simon Peter’s Mother-in-Law

Luke 4:38-39 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

Raising the Dead Son of a Widow

Luke 7:12-15 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

Raising a Girl from the Dead

Luke 8:49-50, 54-55 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” … He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

Healing a Crippled Woman

Luke 13:10-13 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

A Widow’s Offering

Luke 21:1-4 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two coins. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

Caring for His Mother Before His Death

John 19:26-27 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

Justice for the Oppressed

Luke 18:1-7 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

My dear lady, do you know that God is able to give justice to those who are oppressed and cry out to Him? Christ’s parable is of a widow who had no one to speak for her, but she received justice. God truly hears your cries, and asks only that you will trust in Him.