Holy Mothers of the Church

We are talking this morning about holy mothers of the church and their glorious dress. This is the Lord’s Day. The Lord is with us according to his promise to receive our worship and bless his holy people. St. Augustine believed that God’s holy angels also are with us when we worship. Jesus said, “For where two or three come together in my name, there I am in their midst” (Matt. 18:20). Paul wrote, “For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head” (1 Cor. 11:10). And the Hebrews writer said, “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly” (Heb. 12:22).

Today is also called Mother’s Day. So we bless all holy mothers who are beautifully dressed in Holy Spirit-produced good works. John tells us: “Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous deeds of the saints)” (Rev. 19:8). Paul declares, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance [from all eternity] for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). God is holy, and his church is holy.

We want to consider certain scriptures that speak especially of the spiritual garments of the holy mothers of the church, especially from the apostolic teaching of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Peter’s Teaching

In 1 Peter 3:1-6, Peter teaches the following qualities of Christian mothers:

First, they are to be submissive to their own husbands (1 Pet. 3:1–5). As Christ is the head of the church, the husband is the head of the wife, not according to his opinion, but by divine ordination. The wife is to submit to her husband “as to the Lord” “in everything,” as the Scripture teaches, and she is to submit even to an unbelieving husband who desires to dwell with her. They were married as pagans, but later the wife became a Christian. So Christian wives are told to submit to their own husbands, even to unbelieving ones. The unbelieving husband may come to faith as he observes his wife’s holy conduct in reverence to God.

Second, Peter teaches that a Christian mother’s beauty does not consist in external things like costly hairdos, gold jewelry, or fine clothes, but in the unfading, incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in the sight of God (1 Pet. 3:3–4). Man always looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord always looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). We are to put on the new man, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Unbelieving women may dress to attract attention to themselves. It is a kind of exhibitionism. They are saying, “Look at me and be thrilled!” But holy women and mothers dress to worship our holy God, who is watching us with his holy angels. Holy mothers are to reflect the beauty of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which we read about in Galatians: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23). Paul also states, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18); “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Cor. 4:16–17).

This inward, Spirit-produced beauty is the standard for holy mothers for all times. It was true of Sarah and Rebekah, these holy mothers of the past who made themselves beautiful by trusting in God and submitting to their own husbands (1 Pet. 3:5). Sarah, the mother of all holy mothers, obeyed her husband and respected her husband by calling him, “My lord.” Peter tells us that such holy mothers who revere God will be fearless of the future (1 Pet. 3:6). John also speaks of this: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). They can sing,

“’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

and grace my fears relieved.”

So my counsel to all of us is to fear God and fear nothing else.

All holy mothers are heirs of Sarah. They are to be known for their good works (“i class=”lang”>agathapoiousai,” doers of good, doers of the will of God.)

What would feminists say about this apostolic directive? They want to reverse the biblical order. They are not interested in the equality of husbands and wives; they demand that men be subject to their wives.

Christianity alone properly elevates women. They are equal to men in the grace of life (1 Pet. 3:7). So we read, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:28–29).

Yet there is order in God’s institutions of family, state, and church. Without the authority of Christ functioning in these institutions, chaos ensues. So God appoints headship. Paul writes, “Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3).

Thus, Peter is teaching that the Christian mother’s duty is to have faith in God, walk in humility, and be rich in good works.

Paul’s Teaching about Holy Mothers

Paul also teaches about holy mothers and their beauty. We want to consider four texts.

1. 1 Timothy 2:9–10. Here Paul teaches that the beauty of the holy mothers of the church does not consist in external things, such as braided hair, gold, pearls, and very expensive clothes. Only the rich can afford these luxuries. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). Paul tells us that God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things, and the things that are zeroes, nothings, to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him (1 Cor. 1:28–29).

So Paul counsels Christian mothers to put on the glorious dress of good works, meaning delightful obedience to the will of God. Good works alone prove our salvation. In 1 Timothy 2:10 we read that women are to clothe themselves “with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” Elsewhere, Paul writes, “[Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Tit. 2:14).

Those who worship God must put on the glorious dress of good works, which are wrought by the Holy Spirit working in and through us, as Paul explains to the Philippian believers: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil. 2:12–13).

2. 1 Timothy 5:5. Holy mothers who are widows without any means of support are to be supported by the church as they serve the church. They must trust God and pray night and day, as the eighty-four-year-old Anna trusted and prayed night and day, fasting and praying in the temple courts (Luke 2:26–38).

3. 1 Timothy 5:9-14. In this passage, Paul gives nine directives concerning holy mothers of the church.

First, they are to be morally faithful to their husbands, that is, faithful to their marriage covenants.

Second, they should be well-known to others for their good works. This is not based on their self-declaration, but on others testifying about their good lives and works.

Third, they are to bear children in the will of God. Having children is not optional; it is the creation mandate.

Fourth, they are to rule their homes. The wives are to manage the affairs of the house under the direction of their husbands (the word is oikosdespostein in 1 Tim. 5:14; see also Mk. 14:14). They are to deal with the children, the finance, education of the children, teaching, food, and so on. There is order in a Christian home, not confusion.

Fifth, they are to bring up children, that is, to enable the children to grow up both physically and spiritually, as Jesus himself “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). They are to teach and train their children especially in God’s word, so that these children may love God. The psalmist speaks about “what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.” Then he says, “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.” And what is the purpose? “Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands” (Ps. 78:3–4, 7).

Sixth, they are to show hospitality to needy strangers, especially the saints of God as they travel. This is hard work, yet it is God’s work, which will be rewarded. We are to be rich in good works by sharing our goods and by our service. God considers the sweat of our service to God as beautiful and spiritual. Jesus himself taught, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in” (Matt. 25:35). Paul writes elsewhere, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). And the Hebrews writer exhorts, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Heb. 13:2).

Seventh, they are to wash the feet of the saints. It was the menial task of a slave to wash the dirt off the feet of the saints. But it is a good work, especially in God’s sight. (PGM) Consider the words of Abigail to David: “She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, ‘Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of my master’s servants’” (1 Sam. 25:41). Jesus also spoke of this at the home of Simon the hypocrite: “Then [Jesus] turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair’” (Luke 7:44). On the night on which he was to be betrayed, Jesus himself “got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” Then he said to his disciples, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13: 4–5, 14).

Eighth, they are to help those in distress by relieving their distress. James asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?” (Jas. 2:14–16). The Hebrews author admonishes, “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering” (Heb. 13:3). “Remember” means to help them. And John writes, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:16).

Ninth, they are to be devoted to every good work that the Bible teaches. In other words, we cannot pick and choose what we are to do; we must obey what the Lord of the church is telling us to do. Paul writes, “This is a trustworthy saying. . . . I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone” (Tit. 3:8). This is a formula for success. He also states, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives” (Tit. 3:14). This is speaking about Cretan believers, who were called lazy gluttons and liars. Laziness is a violation of the fourth commandment that says we must work six days. If we work six days, we will lack nothing. “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.” What is good is the will of God. Why? “in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.” Some young people work hard and achieve, while others do not amount to anything because they are lazy and do not want to study. They still live off their parents. They are like leeches. I say these things to inspire you to be productive, to get up in the morning, and to start studying and working.

4. Titus 2:3-5. The minister is to teach older mothers to teach younger Christian mothers seven things.

First, godly mothers are to love their husbands in sickness, in health, and so on.

Second, godly mothers are to love their children so that they may be successful in life by loving God and serving him. Loving husbands and children is hard work. But we are told that God gives sufficient grace to do every good work. So we read, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). What more do we need? Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” He will give us all grace so that we can abound in all good works. And Paul also teaches, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped [furnished, made capable of] for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

An epitaph from Pergamus dating from the time of the Emperor Hadrian reads: “To the most sweet woman who loved her husband and her children.”¹

Third, godly mothers are to be self-controlled. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. In other words, they are to be Spirit-filled. Self-control means under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Fourth, godly mothers are to be morally pure. From all eternity, God chose us to be holy and blameless, and Christ makes us holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4; 5:27).

Fifth, godly mothers are to be workers at home (oikourgoi). Their primary responsibility is to work at home. This is something that is despised by today’s feminists who oppose whatever the Bible says.

Sixth, godly mothers are to be kind, especially to those who are around them.

Seventh, godly mothers are to be submissive to their own husbands. This is the divine order. The family is God’s institution, and therefore authority must be there to ensure order.

The purpose of these characteristics is to make the gospel attractive, especially to unbelievers, by living the gospel, not just speaking about it. Paul also instructs, “Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior [that is the gospel] attractive” (Tit. 2:9–10). Our lives are to make the gospel attractive to the world. As we said earlier, Peter writes, “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Pet. 3:1–2).

We are the light of the world. Paul says, “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” (Phil. 2:14–15).

Remember the teenager Rebekah in Genesis 24. By hard work, she served the strangers from Canaan—the servants of Abraham. She gave them water to drink and also watered their ten camels. This meant she had to draw about three hundred gallons of water from the well. Certainly, she was dressed in good works.

Remember the holy mother of Proverbs 31. The writer begins by asking, “A wife of noble character, who can find?” They are very, very rare, as he concludes: “She is worth far more than rubies” (v. 10). Then he describes this holy mother:

1. “She works with eager hands” (v. 13). She is not lazy.
2. “She gets up while it is still dark” (v. 15). That is what my mother did. She was the first one to get up, while it was still dark, at four in the morning.
3. “She sets about her work vigorously” (v. 17).
4. “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue” (v. 26). That means she studies the Bible. She is Spirit-filled.
5. “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (vv. 27–28).
6. Then we read, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (v. 30).

Remember Dorcas. She also was rich in good works. We read, “Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them” (Acts 9:39).

Remember Tryphena and Tryphosa. Paul writes of them in Romans 16:12: “Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.” He also mentions Persis: “Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.” Can God say that we work, that we work hard, and that we work very hard for the Lord?

Remember the holy virgin Mary, the mother of God, from whom came the holy Seed, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and was raised for our justification as the Scripture prophesied. The Lord declared in Genesis 3, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Gen. 3:15). And Paul says about this Christ, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Col. 2:15). Thus, we are saved.

Without mothers, there would be no Savior, no salvation, and no church. So thank God for all the holy mothers of the church! Some, like my mother, are in heaven now. Others are here on earth. May God bless today all our holy mothers, who work very hard at home, at work, and in the church, for God’s glory.

¹ George W. Knight III, The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The Pastoral Epistles (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992), 307.