Lesson 19: The Samaritan Woman, The Widow With Two Mites
And The Gentile Woman

Introduction:  During his ministry, Jesus met and taught women 
as well as men.  This lesson discusses His meeting with three of 
these women: a Samaritan, a Jew, and a Gentile.

I. The Samaritan Woman (Jn. 4:4-42)
   A. Jesus met a woman at a well.
      1. As Jesus passed through Samaria he stopped at Jacob's 
     well and rested as his disciples went into Sychar to get 
     food.  See Gen. 33:19, 48:22 and Josh. 24:32  in 
     reference to Jacob's well.
      2. Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink.  The well 
     was over 100' deep.
      3. The woman was amazed that Jesus, a Jew, had spoken to her.
   B. Jesus taught the Samaritan woman.
      1. He told her of living water.
      2. She did not understand.
      3. Jesus further explained that He was talking about the 
     water of life.
      4. She still did not understand and asked for this living 
     water, thinking that it would be nice to have.
      5. Jesus miraculously told her of her five husbands and the 
     man with whom she currently lived.
      6. She then perceived Jesus to be a prophet and asked Him 
     to teach her whether God should be worshipped on Mt. 
     Gerazim, the location of Samaritan worship, or in 
     Jerusalem.
      7. Jesus answered that true worship at that time was in 
     Jerusalem, "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the 
     true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and 
     truth;" (Jn. 4:23).
      8. The Samaritan woman knew that the "Messiah is coming who 
     would declare all things to them."
      9. Jesus said,  "I am He."
   C. Jesus instructed His disciples (vss. 27-38).
      1. They requested Him to eat of the food they had brought.
      2. He said, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."
      3. Like the Samaritan woman, they did not understand.
      4. Jesus instructed them that the true food was "to do the 
     will of God."
     a. The field is white for harvest.
     b. The reapers are receiving wages and gathering fruit for 
        life eternal.
     c. Others had sown, the disciples should reap.
   D. Jesus taught the Samaritans.
      1. Some of the Samaritans believed because of Jesus' talk 
     with the Samaritan woman.
      2. At their request, Jesus stayed with them two days.
      3. Many Samaritans believed when He taught them, "This one 
     is indeed the Savior of the world."

Principles:
    1. The word of God is true drink.
    2. God gives the true bread out of heaven (Jn. 6:32).
    3. Worship is no longer tied to a specific geographical 
       location.
    4. Nothing about our lives is hidden from God.
    5. Reapers have been sent into the world today.

II. The Widow With Two Mites  (Mk.12:41-44)
   A. Jesus observed rich people putting large sums of money into 
      the temple treasury.
   B. He then observed a poor widow putting in two small copper 
      coins.
   C. Jesus instructed His disciples.
      1. The widow contributed more than all the others; in her 
     poverty, she gave all she had.
      2. The rich contributed out of their abundance.

Principles:
    1. God loves a cheerful giver  (2 Cor. 9:7).
    2. We should give as we have been prospered (1 Cor. 16:2).

III. The Gentile Woman (Mt. 15:21-28; Mk. 7:24-30)
   A. Jesus withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon.  It was His 
      first visit to a Gentile nation.
   B. A Canaanite woman sought help for her demon-possessed 
      daughter.
   C. His disciples asked Him to send her away.
   D. Jesus told her that He was sent only to "the lost sheep of 
      the house of Israel."
   E. She persevered, bowing down before Him, saying,"Lord, help 
      me."
   F. He replied, "It is not good to take the children's bread 
      and throw it to the dogs."
   G. She replied, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the 
      crumbs which fall from their master's table."
   H. Jesus answered, " O woman, your faith is great; be it done 
      for you as you wish."

Principles:
    1. Great faith brings great rewards.
    2. Perseverance brings great rewards (Lk. 18:1-8).

Questions:

1. Who had sown that the disciples should reap?
2. What was the living water of which Jesus spoke?
3. What food did Jesus call "true food"?
4. How can Jesus' interest in the giving into the temple treasury 
   be extended to giving into the Church treasury today?
5. How does God judge us in regards to giving?
6. Why did Jesus at first seem to ignore the Canaanite woman?
7. Thought Question:  Why did a Canaanite woman address Jesus as 
   "Son of David?"
8. Did Jesus' disciples want Him to show mercy to or just get rid 
   of the woman (Mt. 15:23)? Consider His reply to them in verse 24.            
9. Why was Jesus reluctant to grant her wish (Mt. 15:24)?




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