Did you hear what the town tart had to say?
Published 1:42 pm Sunday, June 1, 2025
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By R.A. Mathews
Airports with their long lines, longer concourses, and even longer wait times are not for me. I prefer speaking to groups on large screens in churches and auditoriums via the magic of Zoom. But my last engagement was nearby, so I was there in person.
As I approached the podium, a woman asked my topic, and I told her with a grin, “Jesus and the town tart.” Immediately, she knew who I meant. Try your skill. Was that 1) Rahab, 2) Tamar, 3) Ruth or 4) none of these?
Consider your choices and I’ll give you a huge hint: She’s a figure in the New Testament. Now select your answer.
The first three women are listed in Matthew’s genealogy for Jesus: His great-great (and more great) grandmothers. Since they aren’t women of the New Testament, the answer is No. 4, “none of these.”
We meet the town tart as Jesus goes north, returning home from Judea. Many Pharisees chose the long route to Galilee, avoiding the despised Samaritans, but Jesus traveled straight through the region.
He had plans.
Our Lord would soon say to his disciples, “…lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (John 4:35).
Jesus stopped at Jacob’s well in Samaria, sent His disciples into town for food, and then spoke with a woman as she came to draw water.
“There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’ …the Samaritan woman said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God… you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water’” (John 4:7-10).
Then what did Jesus tell her to do: 1) stay and eat with me, 2) call your husband, 3) go and sin no more or 4) none of these?
Consider your choices and decide on your answer. Here’s the passage:
“He said to her, ‘Go, call your husband and come here.’” The answer is No. 2, “Call your husband” (John 4:16).
When the woman said she had no husband, Jesus replied, “… you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband…” (John 4:18).
Town tart, right?
Then Jesus did something very rare. “The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ)’ … Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He’” (John 4:25-26).
This is a special moment in Scripture because Jesus doesn’t confirm that He’s the Messiah very often!
The woman dropped her pot, ran back to town, and then what happened: 1) the townspeople laugh, 2) she’s caught stealing, 3) many listen and believe and 4) they stone her for being a harlot?
Consider your choices and decide on your answer. Here’s the passage:
“From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all the things that I have done’” (John 4:39).
The answer is No. 3, “many listen and believe.”
Jesus chose this woman. The Lord knew she would be at the well and He knew all about her life.
Why did Jesus choose her?
Because the woman at the well did half of His work for Him that day. The townspeople not only listened to her, they believed that Jesus was the Christ solely on her word. Without ever seeing Him. Read this often overlooked passage again:
“From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, ‘He told me all the things that I have done.’”
But how is that possible?
Who would stop and listen to the town tart? And, then, who would believe her big tale?
The simple answer is found in Genesis. Judah gave his son to Tamar and the son died. Judah then gave Tamar his second son, who also died. Judah then said he’d give Tamar the third son, and Tamar returned to her father while the boy grew up (Genesis 38:1-11).
Instead of the town tart, isn’t it possible she was a tragic and respected figure like Tamar? One thing is certain, many listened and believed.
There’s always more to a message than I can give you here. I have a sermon on this woman I can send you if you contact me: Hello@ramathews.com.
Clearly, Jesus chose a woman and she preached the Good News that day!
Jesus also chose me and He has chosen you. Every Christian has a ministry.
Whatever makes you special, pray about it. That may be your gift for Him. Then follow your call.
The Rev. Mathews (B.A., M.Div., J.D.) is the author of the “Reaching to God” series. Contact her at Hello@RAMathews.com. All Scripture was taken from the NASB 1995.
Copyright © 2022, 2025 R.A. Mathews. All rights reserved.