THE MOTHERS OF THE BIBLE

A day set aside to honor mothers was the suggestion of Anna M. Jarvis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Anna wanted to honor her mother and all mothers. 

Anna never married and was very close to her mother. 

Her mother faithfully taught Sunday School for twenty years. 

Anna's mother passed away on May 9, 1905, exactly 100 years ago.


The first Mothers' Day church service was held May 10th, 1908 in her mother's home town of Grafton, West Virginia.

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making Mother's Day a national observance, "as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."

The Christian community still honors mothers the way Miss Jarvis originally intended.

In worship services each year, we pray for mothers and thank God for the special women that God has placed in our lives.


The Scripture says, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land . . ." (Ex.20:12).

Today, we're honoring all mothers by using some mothers from the Scriptures as representatives.

Eve means "Mother of all living."  As such she represents every mother.  Both joy and pain were her lot.

The Scripture says, "Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living" (Gen. 3:20).

Sarah, the wife of Abraham, represents mothers who wait and long for babies and finally are blessed late in life.

The Scripture says, "Sarah . . . bare Abraham a son in his old age . . . And Abraham called the name of his son . . . Isaac" (Gen. 21:2-3).

Hagar the slave represents battered women, deserted wives and abandoned mothers.  She suffered much, but remained faithful to her son.

The Scripture says, "And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.  (Sarah) said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba" (Gen. 21:9-11).

Rebekah was the mother of twins.  She represents those mothers who grieve over family discord and sons who are very different and engage in conflict.

The Scripture says, "Rebekah . . . conceived.  And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob . . ." (Gen. 25:21,24-26a).

Rachael was greatly loved by Jacob, but she actually became his second wife.  She also was denied children for many years, and finally died in childbirth.

The Scripture says, "Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die . . .

And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

And she called his name Joseph . . ." (Gen.30:1,22-24).

Moses' mother, Jochabed, represents those mothers who love their children enough to give them up ---birth mothers who allow adoption because it's better for the baby.

The Scripture says, "And the woman conceived, and bare a son . . .

And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes . . . and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.

And his sister stood afar off, to (see) what would be done to him.

And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river . . . and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

And when she had opened it, she saw the child . . . And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children . . .

And the child grew . . . and he became her son. And she called his name Moses . . ."(Ex. 2:1-6,9-10).

Naomi represents good mothers-in-law.  She defies the popular myth about "in-law trouble" and meddling relatives.

The Scripture says, "And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord deal kindly with you . . .

(But) Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (Ruth 1:8-9,16).

Ruth represents mothers who leave their own land and loved ones and remain loyal to their mates.  She worked in the fields to care for herself and her family.

The Scripture says, "And Ruth the Moabitess . . . gleaned in the field after the reapers . . ." (Ruth 2:2-3).

Hannah represents mothers who give up their children to God's service—missionaries and evangelists who leave their homes to do greater things.

The Scripture says, "For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord . . ." (I Sam. 1:27-28).

Bathsheba, the wife of King David, the mother of Solomon represents those parents who experience the ultimate sorrow--the loss of a baby.

The Scripture says, "And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died . . .  And David comforted Bathsheba his wife . . ." (II Sam.12:24).

King Lemuel's mother represents working women everywhere--all those mothers who hold down jobs outside the home.

The Scripture says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her . . .

She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

She . . . worketh willingly with her hands.


She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
(Prov. 31:10-27).

Lois represents those wonderful grandmothers who rear not only their own children, but also the children of their sons and daughters.  Their influence is tremendous.  Paul mentioned it in his letter to Timothy.

The Scripture says, "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois . . ." (II Tim. 1:5).

Eunice, another New Testament  mother complimented by Paul, represents mothers in mixed marriages. 

Her son, Timothy, was half Greek and half Hebrew. 

Both the race and the religion were divided in this household. 

Paul says she did a superb job in a difficult situation.

The Scripture says, "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son . . .

I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee,  which dwelt (in) thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also" (II Tim. 1:1-5).

Mary, the mother of our Lord, experienced deprivation, sorrow and loss. 

As such she also represents every mother, but especially those who sacrifice their sons in a great cause---mothers of soldiers, sailors, and martyrs.

The Scripture says, "And (Mary) brought forth her firstborn son . . . And Simeon blessed them, and said . . . Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel . . .

(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) . . ." (Luke 2:4-7,34-35).

A worthy Mother is a treasure that is never forgotten. 

One writer said, "There were times (when) I hated my Mother.  Funny, though— now, I can't remember why.  I do, however, remember that she rocked me.  I remember that she read me "The Pokey Little Puppy."   I remember her going to school with me the first day—and crying at my wedding.  Mom sacrificed for us.  She hung out the sheets when the West Texas wind had frozen them as stiff as boards.  She got up with us in the night, worried when we were out too late.  She cooked our breakfast and dragged us out of bed to eat it thanklessly."

But the pain of a worthy Mother has its reward:

The Scripture says, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised" (Prov. 31:28-30).

An old poem says:

Some have had kings in their linage,
Those to whom honor was paid.
Now, I was not blessed with such assets;
But I had a Mother who prayed.

Some have had worldly successes,
And trust in the riches they've made.
But I had a dearer possession;
For I had a mother who prayed.

Some have had much fame and fortune,
They cherish those baubles that fade.
But my greatest treasure is knowing,
That I had a mother who prayed.

Let's honor our mothers today and every day throughout the year.

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(Word Count 1499)
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