Teacher's manual Lesson sample
Women of the Bible and Beyond Stages 5–6
Overview
By direct examination of Old and New Testament texts, this unit shows that God establishes, enshrines, even emphasises the equal value of women and men.
Since Jesus is the manifestation and revelation of God in the world, in direct relationship with people, it particularly examines the radical interaction of Jesus with a whole variety of women. Furthermore, as the fulfilment of the Old Testament, Jesus provides the appropriate starting point for exploring key examples and relevant teaching on women in the Old Testament.
The unit also invites students to consider the diverse manifestation of Christian faith in the lives of women from the early church, through history, to today. In doing so, the unit will address any negative perceptions of Christianity and women. It will affirm the intrinsic value and dignity of women as it explores the beautiful truth found in the Bible of love, grace and salvation for all.
Aims
To establish a biblical understanding of the value and significance of women by direct examination of biblical texts and the Bible’s overarching message.
For students to recognise the radically countercultural way Jesus interacted with a variety of women, and to see how this is preceded and foreshadowed by examples and teaching from the Old Testament.
To provide a vision of what life as a Christian woman looks like in a variety of circumstances, from the Bible and early church period through to the current day, exploring how women demonstrate living faith, courage, loyalty and wisdom as they shape history.
For students to recognise the vital role women have played—and continue to play—in God’s plan, from Creation and the Fall, throughout the life and work of Jesus and the early church, to today.
To show that the equal value of men and women is found throughout the Bible’s teaching, simultaneously correcting any inaccurate notions that the Bible is outdated, sexist, undervalues or oppresses women.
NOTE: This unit is not designed exclusively for females; it is equally relevant for male students. This is an explicit exploration of the gospel as seen in the witness of women in the New Testament, as Jesus did not come with a different gospel for men and women. A full understanding and appreciation of Jesus is incomplete without considering the radical way he interacted with women and the roles these women played in his ministry. Similarly, a consideration of the significant roles played by women is essential to gaining an accurate understanding of both ancient Israel and the earliest churches.
However, for more sensitive topics, additional resources will be available in the Teacher’s manual and Teacher’s lounge to facilitate single-sex discussions if necessary.
Sinners and saints LESSON 2
Tamar and Judah
LESSON 2
Sinners and saints
LESSON overview
Jesus’ family tree mentions five women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary. Three of those were from nations considered enemies of Israel (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth). Three had what were considered questionable sexual histories (Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba).
Some were non-Jews who joined themselves to Israel (Ruth, Rahab, probably Tamar).
Finally, Jesus’ mother, Mary, while a very faithful Jew, was an unmarried virgin when she became pregnant with him.
God’s word shows no shame in Jesus’ mixed family history; indeed, it draws attention to it by including these women in Jesus’ genealogy–when a genealogy usually included only the male ancestors.
Jesus’ own family tree thus shows that God’s salvation plan used people of all circumstances, and his grace is open to all who have faith. The lesson will acknowledge the failures of men in the royal line–particularly David–to treat women with dignity and respect and contrast this with Jesus, who was a very different King.
LESSON aim
To illustrate how the inclusion of the five women in Jesus’ family tree reflects the significance of women in God’s salvation plan regardless of their background - God’s grace extends beyond Israel to all peoples, including the mistreated, foreigners and sinners.
To recognise that unlikely people and circumstances can become great examples of Christian faith in action.
LEARNING intentions
Students will:
∙ learn how countercultural it is to include women in a first century Jewish genealogy
∙ Get to know the ‘sinners and saints’ in Jesus’ family tree (Mary will be a focus of Lesson 3)
∙ Examine how God used even the most troubled situations in Jesus’ own family line to illustrate redemption in action throughout Israel’s history
∙ Consider the faith of these women as an example for Christians today
∙ Begin to see how God always planned to include Gentiles (non-Jews) in his salvation plans (as per God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 that through his family God would bless the whole world; this will be developed in Lesson 4).
Key Women
OT Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba
NT Mary, Canaanite woman, Samaritan woman, Lydia (first recorded convert in Europe)
Beyond Lacey Sturm, a Christian musician who had a difficult journey as a teenager
Bibles
Individual Bibles (or one between two) would be extremely valuable for this lesson (and all lessons). If this is not possible, then print or display copies of the passages throughout the lesson.
Title
time
Don’t forget to have students complete the ‘Post-it Time’ task at the conclusion of the lesson (as described in the introduction of this manual*). Review their responses before the next class and, if helpful, use them to recap that week at the start of the next session.
Family skeletons?
Briefly explain the interchangeable usage of the terms family tree, family history, genealogy, lineage and ancestry.
Ask students if any of them know anything of their family history/genealogy. In particular, are there any distant criminals or famous connections? Share a limited number. Sensitivity note: If planning to use this task, please consider the circumstance of your students in order to avoid triggering any discomfort if there are students with this kind of situation closer to present time. Language of ‘distant relatives’ or ‘convict pasts’ can help distant the questions from the present. If none, go straight to the Student handbooks to match the examples.
*‘Post-it Time’ is a short recap exercise in the centre spread of the student activity book.
LESSON 2
Sinners and saints
FAMILY SKELETONS
Some people like to explore their genealogy. Below are some famous people. Try to match the person with the family history fact: (Answers shown1)
Kate Middleton
Tom Hanks
Beyoncé
Scarlett Johansson
Mother’s ancestors were Jewish and lived in Poland—many of her relatives were killed in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.
A distant relative of Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy. Therefore, a distant cousin of the 16th President of the United States.
Allegedly has a distant relative who was sent to Australia due to sheep theft.
A distant royal descendant of King Henry II of England.
Many of history’s most famous and respected figures have mixed family backgrounds, and Jesus is no exception. Jesus—arguably the most well known person in history—has his genealogy laid out in the Bible. It is a complex mix of individuals, to say the least. We live in a time when having a criminal in your family line doesn’t really a ect how people view you. In fact, it can be kind of fun to think you might have a convict in your ancestry. But it wasn’t always like this. Even just 100 years ago, your genealogy could impact who you could marry, the jobs you could obtain and how much respect you were shown.
Royal or rogue?
Give the following instruction: Stand if you’d prefer to have a criminal ancestor. Stay seated if you’d rather royalty in your family line.
Back in Jesus’ time, genealogy was a big deal—it could bring you honour or serious shame. That’s why it’s so surprising that Jesus’ family tree includes three great, great, great ... grandmothers who had been famously mixed up in messy or sinful circumstances.
Jesus was not sexist, but the culture around him definitely treated men and women di erently. One clear example is that women were usually left out of genealogies. So, when they are included, you know it’s a big deal.
GOD’S WORD
Read Matthew Chapter 1 and note down the names of, or references to, any women.
Go to the Bible passage to allow direct engagement with the text and personal discovery that it is at the very start of the New Testament. The fact that it’s Matthew’s Gospel adds significance, as this Gospel was originally aimed at a largely Jewish audience. Genealogies were very important in Jewish culture, hence this would have made Jesus’ ‘sketchy’ past even more confronting to readers.
1 Tom Hanks answer: ‘Tom Hanks: The Americas narrator and his connection to Abraham’, Ancestry, 14 March 2025, <ancestry.com/c/ancestry-blog/entertainment-and-culture/tom-hanks-reveals-lincoln-connection>. Kate Middleton answer: Wilson C (2014), ‘Revealed: Kate’s Aussie convict relatives who can trace their roots to a lamb stealing labourer’, Daily Mail Australia, 12 April, <https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2602896/Revealed-Kates-Aussie-convict-relatives-trace-rootslamb-stealing-labourer.html>. Beyonce answer: ‘All the celebrities who have links to royalty’, 9Honey, 2 February 2025, <honey.nine.com.au/royals/celebrities-related-to-royalty-in-pictures/b690b193-3dfe-45d1-90c7-ece037c9bae5#8>. Scarlett answer: ‘Scarlett Johansson uncovers a lost family tragedy’, Ancestry, 7 July 2021, <youtu.be/P1YcvOMm_y4?si=t7H_dwJFys3lU5FD>.
Granny 1,2,3
Now let’s zoom in on the lives of the first three great, great, great … grandmas of Jesus that get mentioned. After you’ve heard each blurb, write a few words about each granny.
Forewarn students that they will have to decide on some adjectives that apply to these women after each blurb is read—this should help them tune in. Now ask for three volunteers to read the information about the first three women: Rahab, Tamar and Bathsheba. Once each ‘blurb’ is read, give students a minute to jot down a couple of words to describe that ‘granny’.
At the conclusion of the three life blurbs, give the following instruction: ‘Stand up when you hear a word that describes the lives of these great, great, great grandmas of Jesus’. Call out the following words (feel free to modify the list): ∙ complicated
squeaky-clean
dodgy
perfect
cringe
straightforward
broken
peaceful
chaotic
messy
A KING LIKE NO OTHER
David is the only one in the genealogy given the title ‘king’, and it was to David that God gave the promise that one of his descendants would be a forever King (2 Samuel 7).
In the very first verse of Matthew’s Gospel, the phrase ‘Son of David’ is used to describe Jesus. This shows that Jesus was that promised forever King.
In this genealogy, Matthew refers to David as ‘the father of Solomon whose mother had been Uriah’s wife’. This phrase would have stood out—even more than the mention of the other women.
GOD’S WORD Why do you think Matthew refers to Bathsheba (Solomon’s mother) as ‘Uriah’s wife’ instead of using her name? What does this force readers to remember?
It draws attention to David’s failure and sin when he abused his power, committed adultery, and arranged the deliberate death of Uriah in battle.
Matthew spent three years travelling with Jesus. He believed wholeheartedly that Jesus was the King from David’s family line— the Messiah. He watched the way Jesus treated women with dignity and respect, and he heard Jesus teach about humility and servant leadership.
REFLECT By including this short phrase that drew attention to King David’s darkest failures, what might Matthew be saying about what to expect from the ‘Son of David’ in the coming chapters?
Jesus will be a very di erent King from David—especially in how he treats women and uses power. He will be a King who not only avoids abusing power, but also restores and forgives sinners (including David). 83%
Tamar
Rahab
Bathsheba
TAMAR – Genesis 38
Tamar’s story is one of struggle and unexpected justice. She was married to Er, the son of Judah, but when Er died, his brother Onan was supposed to marry and provide for her, including providing a son to carry on the family line. Onan refused, and God punished him. Then, Judah made a promise to Tamar that she could marry his youngest son once he grew up (so the family line would continue). But Judah didn’t keep his promise.
Desperate for a son, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah into sleeping with her. When Judah found out she was pregnant, he wanted her punished—until she revealed he was the father. Realising his own failure to provide for Tamar, Judah admitted, ‘She is more righteous than I’ (Genesis 38:26).
There’s no denying the whole situation was pretty messed-up, but Tamar gave birth to twins, and one of them, Perez, became an ancestor of Jesus. Despite the brokenness in her situation, God used Tamar to continue the family line leading to Jesus, God’s Saviour.
RAHAB – Joshua 2 and 6:22–25
Rahab lived in Jericho, a heavily fortified city with a significant number of Canaanite soldiers. The Canaanites were Israel’s enemies. They lived in the land God promised to Israel, the land God planned to conquer for his people to live in. When Joshua and Caleb, two Israelite spies, entered the city to secretly gather information, Rahab hid them on her rooftop, protecting them from the Canaanite king’s soldiers. Rahab was a prostitute who had heard of Israel’s God and recognised his power. She rightly believed God was unstoppable and therefore Jericho was destined to fall. By helping the spies, Rahab became part of God’s plan to give Israel victory. She made the spies promise that she and her family would be kept safe when the city was destroyed. When Israel’s army marched around Jericho, the walls collapsed. However, Rahab’s home was marked by a scarlet cord and she, with her whole family, was rescued. She was accepted into Israel and later became part of the family line of Jesus. Though she was an outsider with a past that was far from what you’d expect in a royal family line, God used her to accomplish his purpose. Even more, in the New Testament she is not just singled out as a member of Jesus’ family tree (Matthew 1:5) but also as a model of faith and as an example of putting faith into action (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25). This woman who was once disgraced is held up as a role model.
BATHSHEBA - 2 Samuel 11–12
Bathsheba’s story is one of heartbreak, loss, mistreatment and resilience. She was the wife of Uriah, a loyal soldier of King David. When David saw her bathing, he summoned her to his palace. As a woman living in this time period, she had little power to refuse. She became pregnant, and when David’s attempt to cover up the situation failed, he arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed in battle.
Bathsheba was left widowed, and most probably grieving. She was then quickly married to the man responsible for her husband’s death, which can’t have been easy, even if he was a king. When their son was born, the baby died as part of God’s judgement on David’s actions—another devastating loss for her. But Bathsheba’s story didn’t end in tragedy. She later gave birth to Solomon, who became Israel’s greatest king. She even influenced his rise to the throne, showing strength and wisdom. Bathsheba’s life was marked by su ering, but she played a key role in biblical history.
NO SHAME
Matthew Chapter 1 is the kind of family history that a first century Jew both would and would not want people to know about. It does contain some very famous people—including kings regarded as heroes—which showed that Jesus came from the line of royalty. However, by including Tamar, Rahab and Bathsheba, it also draws attention to how messy families can be, regardless of their fame. Wouldn’t it have been better to just leave the women o the list completely, hoping people would forget any shameful circumstances and focus on the positive parts of the royal line?
Discuss
Why do you think God’s word includes these women in the opening sentences of the New Testament? What might this suggest about God’s attitude to these women?
Allow students to wrestle with this for a while. Don’t let them stop at ‘I don’t know’.
After some time, use prompting questions such as:
• What might this suggest about God’s attitude to these women?
• Why doesn’t Matthew stick to the tradition of ‘hiding’ these women?
• Given it’s in chapter 1, in what way could this genealogy be flagging a non-traditional attitude to these women?
• What hint does it give us about how women might be viewed by Jesus in the coming chapters of his life?
The inclusion of these women right at the start of the New Testament—by a Jewish author writing to a mostly Jewish audience— is like a hint about what’s coming. Even before Jesus’ birth is described, we’re shown that his story is for everyone, both men and women. And it’s not only interesting that women are included, but that it’s these women. Their stories are complicated, painful, messy, sometimes even scandalous. Yet their names are honoured here. We see here in God’s word that no-one is beyond his reach. No situation is too messy. No-one—then or now—needs to stay stuck in shame.
NOTE: Rahab is especially interesting, as she is not only mentioned here in Matthew’s genealogy but is also held up as an example in Hebrews Chapter 11. There, alongside the likes of Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and Moses, she is spoken of as an example of someone who was ‘commended for their faith’ in a di cult circumstance (Hebrews 11:31, 39). James (Jesus’ brother) writes in his letter that Rahab is an example of backing up your faith with action (James 2:25–26). She trusted God and became a member of Israel, having helped them conquer Jericho.
Less mess
Not every woman in Jesus’ family history had a messy backstory. Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David (and so one of Jesus’ many-times-great grandmothers), is a good example. She gets her own book in the Old Testament, and it’s a positive one. But Ruth wasn’t born Jewish. She was an outsider, a widowed foreigner who chose to follow God with her whole heart. She wasn’t exactly typical royal family-line material. But her reputation stands out. Words like loyal, hardworking, courageous, respectable and honoured all describe her well.
Reflect: God’s saving plan started with the nation of Israel, but how does Ruth’s inclusion remind us of what God’s long term plan involves? What do we have in common with Ruth? Foreigners were always to be encompassed into God’s plan. King David was bi-racial due his grandmother. We too, are foreigners who’ve joined God’s family (unless we have purely Jewish ancestry).
From the grandmothers to the mother
After moving through the grandmothers and grandfathers, we reach Jesus’ mother. There is another oddity about the way the genealogy is written here, one that would have caught the attention of every first century reader.
Matthew 1:16, the final verse of the genealogy reads, ‘…Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.’
Discuss
What is the pivot here? Why doesn’t Matthew simply write, ‘…Jacob the father of Joseph, the father of Jesus, who is called the Messiah’?
Matthew is saying Joseph is not Jesus’ biological father. He doesn’t spell out here who is, but verses 18–20 make it very clear that God has made Mary pregnant through the Holy Spirit. These verses will be a focus in the next lesson.
We’ll spend more time with Mary in the next chapter, but for now it’s hard to understate that Jesus’ genealogy—and especially this final verse—gives us a clear indication that Jesus is ushering in an entirely new kind of family.
Daughter of the king
Imagine being invited to be a child of the King, the perfect King Jesus. Early in Mark’s Gospel, we see just how di erent his family would be.
In Mark 5:25–34, we meet a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. More than just making her physically sick, the bleeding made her religiously unclean under Jewish law (Leviticus 15:25–27). This meant she was likely cut o from worshipping God with others at the temple, cut o from close friends or family, and treated as someone to avoid. Her life would have been one of isolation, poverty (she’d spent all she had on doctors), and quiet su ering.
When she heard about Jesus’ presence, she approached him in a crowd, risking shame and harsh judgement. She didn’t even have the courage to speak; she believed that just touching the edge of his cloak would heal her. She was right. But, before she could sneak away, Jesus asked who it was that touched him. She came trembling before him, likely expecting rebuke, but he said something astounding:
‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your su ering.’
Jesus calls her, ‘daughter’. She is the only person that Jesus ever addresses in this way.
In that moment, Jesus didn’t just heal her body—he drew her into God’s family.
In front of the crowd, he restored her dignity, publicly a rmed her faith, and showed she was welcome to be a beloved child of the King. This was only the start. As we shall see, women (and others) with stories that involved shame, pain, loss, mistreatment and outsider status were openly welcomed into the mixed bag of Jesus’ family.
Why do you think it was easier for this woman to seek healing in secret rather than publicly?
The woman would rightly have feared rejection and possibly even violence from the crowd due to her ‘unclean’ status and social ostracisation. The inevitable shame she would have felt, had she been uncovered, would no doubt have also lead her to approach Jesus as discretely as she could.
What do you think the woman expected Jesus to say when she admitted it was her?
Clearly the woman knew Jesus was powerful—so powerful that she only needed to touch his cloak. That shows tremendous faith (as Jesus acknowledges). Did she also know of his grace and mercy? Verse 33 says she was trembling when she spoke to him so perhaps she feared condemnation from Jesus too (for touching a rabbi when unclean). Instead, she is met with tenderness and is immediately brought into God’s family as Jesus calls her ‘daughter’.
REFLECT: In what ways might publicly turning to Jesus still take courage today?
The fear of condemnation, rejection and shock can be very real for those who rightly see the sin in their lives. Social ostracisation from our peers or family, mockery and judgement are real possibilities and can cause great hurt. But we must remember–and this passage shows it vividly–Jesus’ response is always one of compassionate healing.
Ju the art
The opening chapter of Matthew’s Gospel is just one early indication that Jesus will treat women with a very di erent attitude to what was common in his day.
GOD’S WORD – The surprise factor of the women included is not just their gender. What other forms of diversity are represented? What does that show about the kind of diversity that Jesus’ plan might involve?
Inclusion, regardless of one’s background or history, will be a defining mark of his life and message. This inclusion has continued through history as all sorts of men and women are brought into God’s plan for salvation.
LACEY STURMʼS STORMY STORY
Lacey Sturm grew up in a broken home and faced deep emotional struggles. She became an outspoken atheist as a teenager, rejecting the idea of God due to the pain and suffering she saw in the world. She battled severe depression and anger. At 16, she decided she was sick of living.
God changed everything
On the day she was at her lowest, Lacey skipped school. As a punishment, her grandmother made her go to church. She spent the whole time angry, but after church a man spoke directly to her, saying, ‘God knows the pain in your heart’. He told her God would love her like no father ever had. She broke down and says she felt like God was saying, ‘Yes, I know you. I know all the things you have done. I am not shocked by any of it. Come close to me, my love, just like you are. I have already forgiven your past and future. And, if you let me, I will make you new. I will make you into all that I have planned for you’.2 From there she began to trust Jesus as her loving, saving King, accepting his ‘embrace of grace’.
Her impact
In the early 2000s, Lacey became the lead singer of a band called Flyleaf. Their music often reflected themes of struggle, faith and hope. Later she focused on solo music, speaking engagements and writing books like The Reason: How I Discovered a Life Worth Living She shares her story and she advocates for mental health awareness, helping people understand that there is hope in Christ. She’s living proof that God can take a broken life and use it for something powerful.
Discuss
Why do you think God seems to choose unlikely people—like Lacey Sturm or the women in Jesus’ family tree—to accomplish his plans?
Lacey once believed she was too broken for God to love or use. These women’s lives show God’s ability to bring hope and purpose to anyone. His grace (gift of love) is for all, and he can use anyone for his plans to spread this hope and love.
To finish, have students complete the task in the centrefold by explaining why the lesson was called ‘Sinners and saints’.
Extra time?
2
Have you ever felt like you don’t deserve God’s love? How does today’s lesson show you that no-one is too ‘messy’ for God to love?
You could play a song by Lacey Sturm. LESSON 2 | WOMEN OF THE BIBLE AND BEYOND TEACHERʼS MANUAL 11
Take a quick flashback to the days you did crosswords. Flashback through this lesson in order to find five key women’s names to add to this puzzle below.
The solutions are: Ruth, Tamar, Bathsheba, Rahab, Mary.
Sturm L(2014), The Reason: How I Discovered a Life Worth Living, Baker Books, p. 113.