The Gospel of Matthew contains a number of verses that provide a conflicting yet intriguing insight to the status of women and the interactions that Jesus had with them. A consequence of these differing views is the uncertainty readers may have over the role of women and their influence in the rise of Christianity. Professor Rodney Stark’s essay on the role of women promotes the notion that women were major stakeholders in Christianity and acted as a catalyst to the religion’s rapid growth. Despite having references about Christian women with high status, the Gospel of Matthew emphasises more on the importance of their function in the Christian movement.
Christianity had become a popular religion among Pagan females as a result of sacred texts …show more content…
Status referred to the social positions that women could obtain within a population whilst their function related to the roles which they can be attributed to, such as administrative or maternal roles. Coincidentally, the main female figures in the Gospel of Matthew also have their roles implied and this suggests their social standings within their community. The consistent mention of the two women named ‘Mary’ in the Gospel suggests their function throughout Jesus’s life and the growth of his movement. In numerous occasions, women are associated with the role of being a mother of certain children, namely Jesus (New Oxford Bible, Matthew 2:11). The importance of this role is frequently implied, such as when Joseph is specifically instructed by an angel to take his child (Jesus) and wife (Mary) and flee to Egypt and later to Israel (2:14). Jesus’s mother is often mentioned to be accompanying him on his travels, even up to his death and resurrection (28:6). The association of her role as a mother not only describes her relation to Jesus, but also stresses her function as the guardian of his movement. However, whilst addressing a crowd, Jesus questions who his mother and brothers are, declaring that all of his disciples hold the same titles as well. Although this can be seen as a form of belittlement towards his maternal family who are also present, it in fact implies the opposite. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus consistently remarks on his followers as the “children of the kingdom” that is heaven (13:38). His deliberate use of family terminology when referring to people is done with the intent of relating one person to another. As a result, it is not unusual for Jesus to refer to his followers as direct relatives. Furthermore, Jesus later promotes the honouring of one’s mother and father, and that those who speak in an ill manner of either
Christianity had become a popular religion among Pagan females as a result of sacred texts …show more content…
Status referred to the social positions that women could obtain within a population whilst their function related to the roles which they can be attributed to, such as administrative or maternal roles. Coincidentally, the main female figures in the Gospel of Matthew also have their roles implied and this suggests their social standings within their community. The consistent mention of the two women named ‘Mary’ in the Gospel suggests their function throughout Jesus’s life and the growth of his movement. In numerous occasions, women are associated with the role of being a mother of certain children, namely Jesus (New Oxford Bible, Matthew 2:11). The importance of this role is frequently implied, such as when Joseph is specifically instructed by an angel to take his child (Jesus) and wife (Mary) and flee to Egypt and later to Israel (2:14). Jesus’s mother is often mentioned to be accompanying him on his travels, even up to his death and resurrection (28:6). The association of her role as a mother not only describes her relation to Jesus, but also stresses her function as the guardian of his movement. However, whilst addressing a crowd, Jesus questions who his mother and brothers are, declaring that all of his disciples hold the same titles as well. Although this can be seen as a form of belittlement towards his maternal family who are also present, it in fact implies the opposite. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus consistently remarks on his followers as the “children of the kingdom” that is heaven (13:38). His deliberate use of family terminology when referring to people is done with the intent of relating one person to another. As a result, it is not unusual for Jesus to refer to his followers as direct relatives. Furthermore, Jesus later promotes the honouring of one’s mother and father, and that those who speak in an ill manner of either