The Tangent Series

Episode 6

Patriarchy Survived the Law—NOT the Cross

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Control, With a Legal Signature

I’ve always been quite intrigued by the Law. Maybe it’s my connection to “not” being protected
by the Law. Or maybe it’s the way the Law seems to have a particular swaying, shall we say.
But I’m not just referencing the kind of law that lands you in court—I’m thinking more of the kind
that gets you crucified. Yeah, that kind of Law…

I’m willing to bet most people haven’t given much thought to Law itself—how it's presented,
enacted, or even created… unless it affects them personally. Or someone they love. For the
most part, I’ll be the first to admit—I’m certainly guilty of that. Nothing fires me up more than
something that affects one of my girls.

And I’m not just talking about our institutionalized laws of society, but the faith-based ones too.
The ones we either uphold like gospel (pun intended) or dismiss like parking tickets.
If we want to understand Law—capital L—we have to start with the obvious question: Why do
we even have it? That’s where it gets a little complicated. But the short answer is that laws were
created to bring chaos into order.

Well… sort of.

They were also created to feed egos, hoard power, and tighten control. And if you're going to
impose a law like that—you’d better have a good sales pitch.

I like to think of propaganda as the salesman of chaos—polished, persuasive, and cloaked in
good intentions. It doesn’t scream; it whispers, weaving the illusion that we need something—or
someone. But laws don’t just pass—they’re pushed. And propaganda is the push. It’s elitism in
disguise, convincing the masses that what’s being served is for their own good—even when it’s
poison dressed as policy.

For a law to be accepted, the one presenting it needs enough influence to sway opinion—and
make it stick. Sometimes it’s justice. Sometimes it’s just control with a halo. Of course, there are
also more brute-force tactics—like seizing control altogether.
But for now, let’s keep it simple.
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What Is a Law?

What really is a law?

How would one even define it?

Now, in all honesty, I’m sure my… let’s call it infatuation with the Law, is at least partially rooted
in its apparent bias to protect the guilty. I’ll admit it: it’s a hard line to walk—trying to prevent
wrongful conviction while also supporting victims. But come on now, who are we kidding?

Humanity, within itself, has a certain amount of innate sinfulness, shall we say.

And regardless of which theory you subscribe to—Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s "man is born
good" or the more cynical "rotten to the core" crowd—we can likely agree on one thing: In our
broken state, some form of law seems necessary to keep chaos from bleeding into everything.

So then—what is a law?

A safeguard?

A leash?

A necessary evil?

A holy framework?

Let’s start there.

Because until we define what the Law actually is… We’ll keep missing what Christ came to do
with it.
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A law is a rule designed to govern behaviour and maintain order—backed by authority, and
enforced by consequence (sometimes).
In my own words—a law is a rule with teeth.
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The Law You Didn't Know You Knew

All of this aside, I’d like to talk about a law that has affected every single one of us—whether we
adhere to it, believe in it, or even know it exists.

That law? The Mosaic Law.

“Nonsense,” you say.
“I’m not Christian—I don’t believe in or follow any of that.”

Well, tsk, tsk.

I’m here to propose that you do—whether you realize it or not.

And if you’re a woman reading this, I’m willing to bet you’re even less aware of just how deeply
the Mosaic Law has shaped the world around you—and, in many ways, the expectations placed
on you.

What I’m offering here isn’t a deep dive into Leviticus (you’re welcome), but rather a glimpse—a
tiny lens into the tethering of influence and bias that’s been stitched into society since, well…
Eden.

Because no matter where we live, we’re all living under Law. Some kind of Law. And most of us
are living under the legacy of Mosaic Law—whether through faith, culture, or the patriarchal
residue it left behind.

But was it this way in the beginning?

I’ll keep this part short. (Although my girls would call my bluff—nothing I start short ever stays
that way.)

Now before you get your knickers in a knot—this isn’t an anti-law rant. Think of this tangent as
more of a mental appetizer. Some food for thought. Ideas to chew on.

Because laws are created to protect… something.

Or someone.

Right?
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Older Than Stone

For argument’s sake, if we’re talking about the first recorded law—that award goes to the Code
of Ur-Nammu. A historical artifact, dated around 2100–2050 BCE, from ancient Mesopotamia. It
laid out laws about justice, theft, marriage, and punishment—your basic civil regulations for a
functioning society. It’s what scholars call casuistic law: “If X happens, then Y.”

But this tangent isn’t about the Code of Ur-Nammu. (Though, hats off to them for being the first
to chisel their rules into stone.) The law I’m referring to existed long before Ur-Nammu stamped
his name on a tablet—at least from a Christian perspective.

And I’m writing this from a Christian perspective.

So while archaeologists might be digging up clay, I’m digging into something older. Something
not written in stone—but spoken in a garden.
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The Garden Clause

So where did the very first law come from?

If we’re going to get analytical about it, we have to go back to the beginning—not Mesopotamia,
not Mount Sinai, but Eden. The first unrecorded law known to man is found in Genesis 2:16–17:
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘You may surely eat of every tree of the
garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat...’”

This was God’s first command to humanity. Not written. Not carved. Not codified. Just spoken.

From a biblical worldview, this was:

- The first divine law
- Delivered before writing existed
- Centered not on punishment—but on choice, obedience, and trust

Because every legal system—whether divine or human—starts with something unwritten:

- A conscience
- A conviction
- A command spoken into existence

Before there were tablets, scrolls, or codes… There was a voice. And that voice belonged to our
Father.
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Cue the Pushback

Now this is where it gets tricky.

And I’m willing to bet today’s episode of The Tangent Series is going to stir up some premium
pushback from the peanut gallery. Go ahead—there’s a contact form on my website. Feel free to
file your objections there. I read them all.

But just bear with me. The Genesis story? Pretty common knowledge. And we all know how it
plays out. How could we not? We are still living in it. Humanity was given a clear instruction.

A rule.

A law.

Call it whatever you want.

But that specific command wasn’t arbitrary—it was intentional. It was a boundary put in place to
protect God’s creation: male and female.

And yet…I don’t know… maybe we didn’t want the Father’s protection…
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One, By Design

So in order to understand what went wrong, we need to understand what was meant to be. For
that, we go back to Genesis 1:26–28. Here we have man and woman—created equally, in the
Father’s image. In unison. Ruling together. There’s no debate here. The Bible is clear.

This was the original design: shared dominion, mutual bearing of God’s image, and unity with no
hierarchy between them.

A rule was given—not to control, but to protect that harmony. To maintain the sacred rhythm of
what had been created. God even spells it out again when He says, “The two shall become one
flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)

And just in case you are wondering, One is not divisible. One does not contain rank. There is no
hierarchy in One.

And these words? These very words in particular, weren’t suggestions. They weren’t culturally
influenced. They were spoken from the mouth of the Creator Himself. Sit with that for a moment.
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The First Rule (and Its Consequence)

We’ll start here: with the first rule.

And to be fair, God didn’t leave anyone guessing. He was kind enough to include the
consequence right up front. In Genesis 2, He lays it out plainly: “Do not eat from the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, or you will surely die.”

Okay—no small consequence there.

First, there was life. Then came the law. Break it, and you get death.

Simple enough.

But as we’ve come to learn—especially through the lens of the parent-child relationship—Adam
and Eve just had to test the waters. Eternal life wasn’t enough. They wanted more. Not smart
enough to realize they already had everything, they reached for what they thought they were
missing.

And when that sneaky serpent showed up in Genesis 3 offering them knowledge (which, clearly,
they were lacking), they jumped at the opportunity. Propaganda at its best. And yes, it existed
even before we knew what it was called.

Because apparently, humanity has always been a bit of an opportunist. And if we’re honest?
Also a little greedy. A little power-hungry. And a lot unsatisfied.

Some things never change. Sigh…
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The Fallout

Anyway, the Father’s response was no joking matter.

And unlike most of us parents—who threaten consequences and then cave the second the
tears start—God made good on His promise. And just like that, the first “crime” of humanity was
recorded.

I know, I know—“Don’t call it that.” But do you have a better word?

The result? Evicted. Kicked out of Eden. Out of the family home. No more stability. No more
safety. No more sacred ground. Booted.

But the worst part wasn’t the geography—it was the separation from the Father. And with that
separation came what was promised: death. Not just the physical kind—but the soul-ripping
kind. The kind that makes you forget who you are. The kind that makes you forget where you
came from.

So yeah, I hope you got the picture.

Sure, I could elaborate here (and let’s be real, I probably will later)—but the bottom line is: We
were on our own now. No more walking in the cool of the day with the Father. Direct access
denied!

Thanks, Adam and Eve.
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The Punishment and the Promise

Now, the story wouldn’t be complete without sharing the punishment for the crime. There were
consequences for disobeying the Father—and Genesis 3:14–19 lays them out in no uncertain
terms.

14 So the Lord God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.

15 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.”
16 To the woman he said,

“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”

17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I
commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

Woah.

Those are no small consequences. But before we rush past them, I want to draw your attention
to a tiny little detail that’s often overlooked.

Genesis 3:15.
Often called the protoevangelium—the first whisper of the Gospel. This is where God gives
hope. Right there, in the middle of devastation, He speaks a promise:

- There will be a rescuer.
- There will be redemption.
- There will be a crushing of the serpent’s head.

What a Father. Before He even delivers the consequences to Adam and Eve, He tells them: “I
have a plan.”

But still—what’s done is done. And now humanity must live within the fallout of the Fall, just as
God said. Think of it as a divine time-out. An extended, painful exile from the security of Eden.

We were pulled from the shelter of the garden—not because God stopped loving us, but
because we had to bear the weight of our choices.

And like all punishments?

It hurts. It changes things. And nothing will ever be quite the same.

But—there’s still a promise.

Still a thread of restoration woven through the wreckage. Because this Father doesn’t abandon.
Even when we deserve it.
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The Time-Out Begins

With the Garden of Eden now just a lush memory, we’re left sitting in our broken state. We’ve
got the serpent nipping at our heels, women screaming for epidurals, and a deep, desperate
longing for that oneness God originally designed—and reemphasized in Genesis 2: “That is why
a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
(Genesis 2:24, NIV)

But instead of unity, we’re handed this:

“He will rule over you.” Just what every wife wants to hear. Oneness, severed. Dominion,
distorted. Enter the dynamics of pride, power, and control.

And let’s not pretend Adam got off scot-free.

Because of him, the ground itself was cursed. He’s left to toil and sweat just to survive. And the
worst consequence of all? “From dust you came, and to dust you will return.”

Death.

Physical. Spiritual. Relational. All of it fractured.

God gave a pretty clear picture of what our time-out would look like.

And you’d think—with the separation from Him, the pain, the struggle, the looming end of
life—we’d have learned our lesson.

But... yeah.

That’s not exactly how this story plays out.
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Where It All Starts

If we want to be obedient to the Father, we have to reflect on His original design—His original
intention. That’s the picture we need to hold on to.

Because that was God’s desire for His children: oneness with Him, with each other, and with
creation.

You’d think that kind of connection—walking with the Father in the cool of the day—would have
Adam and Eve pining to get it back. Working to make amends. Longing to please Him.
Repentance, maybe?

But God knew better.

Enter chaos.

Welcome consequences.

And this…this is where it all starts.
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Enter Covenant, Stage Left

What plays out from here on out is—yes, I’m going to say it—sheer terror. Adam and Eve? They
didn’t even seem to give a backward glance to what they left behind. Maybe they had some kind
of divine amnesia. Who knows.

But it didn’t take long for God to step in—to begin pulling the chaos back into some semblance
of order. By the very next book of the Bible—Exodus—we see God deliver His people, Israel,
from slavery in Egypt. And in doing so, He begins setting the stage for something massive:

Covenant Law.

Now if you want the full story, go read it for yourself—really, I mean it. Here, I’ll just give you the
skeletal framework.

By Exodus 19, Israel arrives at Mount Sinai. This is where God calls Moses up the mountain
and prepares the people to receive His law. In Exodus 19:5, God says: “Now if you obey me
fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession...”

And then, in Exodus 20, He delivers the Ten Commandments—the Decalogue. This marks the
formal beginning of the written Mosaic Law. By Exodus 21–23, we get what’s known as the
Book of the Covenant: Civil laws. Moral boundaries. Ceremonial instructions. Property rights,
social justice, Sabbath regulations, festivals—it’s all laid out.

Then in Exodus 24, the people formally accept the covenant: “All that the Lord has spoken we
will do, and we will be obedient.” (Exodus 24:7) Blood is sprinkled as a sign of covenant
ratification—because covenant always comes with cost. Remember this blood offering used to
seal the covenant later in the tangent…

And by Exodus 31:18, God hands Moses the two stone tablets, written by none other than the
finger of God.

This was no symbolic gesture. This was divine authorship.
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Law Meets the Fallout

In order to help you understand the consequences of the Fall—and the way the Law attempted
to bring order to the chaos—we need a brief look at what was included in what’s called the Book
of the Covenant.

Keep in mind: these weren’t just random rules. They were meant to bring structure and stability
to a fractured society. Laws weren’t given in a vacuum—they were a response to what was
already happening.

Here’s a snapshot of what was included (please do extended research for a deeper
understanding):

- Civil laws: property disputes, restitution for theft or damage, compensation for injury
(e.g. If someone’s ox gores your neighbor, here’s what to do...)
- Social justice commands: protections for widows, orphans, and foreigners—groups
most vulnerable to abuse or neglect
- Ritual and sacred space laws: how to build altars, when and how to observe Sabbaths
and feasts, and the setting apart of holy time and space
- Ethical extensions of the Ten Commandments: expanding “you shall not steal” to
include how you repay when you do; expanding “you shall not murder” into what
happens when someone dies under your care or negligence

It wasn’t just about punishment. It was about preservation. Preserving dignity. Justice. Identity.
Covenant. The Law was meant to hold back the tide of chaos unleashed in Eden—Not by
erasing sin, but by confronting it head-on with boundaries. Not all of them would remain
uncorrupted—some, as we’ll see, were co-opted by culture, not commanded by God.
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So Why Was It Needed?
Let’s break it down.
Big Laws—Real Life

The Ten Commandments were foundational—broad principles.

Think of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17) like a constitutional preamble—big-picture
moral pillars: No other gods. No murder. No stealing. No lying. But broad principles only go so
far. Societies need practical applications.

“You shall not steal”—Okay, but what if someone breaks into my house at night? “You shall not
kill”—What if my ox gores your servant?

That’s where the Book of the Covenant steps in—it takes the moral principles and expands
them into detailed, situational cases.

This is known as casuistic law: “If X happens, then Y is the consequence.” It wasn’t just moral
theory—it was justice in motion.

Israel Was Becoming a Nation

Israel was becoming a nation for the first time. They had just exited Egypt—no king, no legal
structure, no constitution.

They were:

- Tribal
- Freshly freed from Pharaoh
- On the brink of becoming a covenant people under Yahweh

The Book of the Covenant became their national legal code. Not crafted by kings or scribes, but
authored by God Himself.

It was a theocratic constitution—a framework rooted in both justice and mercy, designed to
shape not just a people, but a holy nation.

It Set Israel Apart

The Law didn’t just establish order—it set Israel apart. While other ancient law codes (like
Hammurabi’s) existed, God’s law stood out for its emphasis on:

- Equal protection for the vulnerable (Exodus 22:21–24)
- Fair treatment of foreigners
- Sabbath rest for all—even animals
- Moral accountability before a holy God

This wasn’t just about rules—it was about identity. The Law shaped who they were as a people.
Not just a nation with boundaries, but a nation with purpose.

It Formed the Basis of Covenant Relationship

The Law wasn’t just legislative—it was relational. In Exodus 24:7, we read: “Then he took the
Book of the Covenant and read it to the people… and they said, ‘We will do everything the Lord
has said.’”

This was Israel’s way of saying: “We accept the terms.” It wasn’t a cold legal contract. It was a
covenant—a binding relationship with God. Like wedding vows following a proposal (Exodus
19), like a ring after a declaration of love (the Ten Commandments), the Book of the Covenant
sealed the union.

This was God saying: “You are mine.” And Israel saying: “We are Yours.”
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So… How Did That Go?

The question is, how did the following of these rules play out for God’s children? Let’s be
honest—humanity went off the rails. Like a bad marriage.

But before we go further, let me bring you back to the original design one more time. It was male
and female—created in the holy image of God. They had direct access to the Father. All their
needs were met. They lived in unison, walking in step with both each other and their Creator. In
marriage, they became one flesh—just as God intended. They ruled together, with co-authority.
And there was no death. Can you picture it?
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Let’s Just Take a Look, Shall We?

So let’s—out of curiosity—look at a few things covered under these laws.

But first, keep this in mind: God gave the Law—but NOT as the final word. Leviticus 12:1–2:
“The Lord spoke to Moses…” God authored it, Moses mediated it—but Christ would one day
fulfill and transform it. (Remember the rescue plan promised in Genesis 3:15.)

Some of these laws reflect God’s holiness.

Others?

They reflect cultural accommodation—a divine concession to a human condition.

As Jesus Himself said in Matthew 19:8:

“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this
way from the beginning.”

Not this way from the beginning.

There it is again--the original design.

So before we critique the laws—or worse, weaponize them—we have to ask: Is this reflecting
God’s character… or our chaos?

Take, for Example: Purification After Birth

Same Sacrifice. Not the Same Timeline.

Let’s look at one of the laws that often raises eyebrows—Leviticus 12:5.

- If a woman gave birth to a son: she was ceremonially unclean for 40 days.
- If she gave birth to a daughter: the period of impurity doubled—80 days.

Same sacrifice was required at the end. But not the same timeline.

So... why?

- Was it rooted in cultural beliefs about female impurity or inferiority?
- Was it a form of protective seclusion for both mother and daughter in a male-dominated
society?
- Could it have been a symbolic delay that would only make sense in light of the New
Covenant—a pointer toward reversal and restoration?

Whatever the case, here’s what we need to see:

This law reflected the realities of a patriarchal culture, but it does not mean God endorsed that
culture.

God worked within the system—but that doesn’t mean He affirmed its structure. This is crucial
to understand.

Priests: Men Only? Yes—But NOT Forever

Under the Mosaic Law, the priesthood was limited:

- Only Aaron’s sons could serve as priests (Exodus 28).
- Women were excluded from offering sacrifices in the Temple.

But let’s not confuse restriction with erasure.

Because women were not excluded from:

- Prophecy – Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Anna
- Evangelism – the Samaritan woman at the well, Mary Magdalene at the tomb
- Apostolic mission – Phoebe, Junia, and others

The male priesthood was a foreshadow, not a forever-rule. And remember, it included only
Aaron’s bloodline.

It pointed forward to something greater—a day when the veil would be torn, and access to God
would no longer be guarded by gender, genealogy, or geography. The three Gs.

The Sacrifice of the Poor—Luke 2 and the Doves

In Luke 2:24, we’re told that Mary and Joseph offered two birds at the temple—a sacrifice
designated for those too poor to afford a lamb (see Leviticus 12:6–8).

This small detail speaks volumes.

It tells us:

- Jesus entered poverty, not privilege.
- His family obeyed the Law, even in their economic humility.
- From the very beginning, Jesus was marked by sacrifice—not status.

No silver spoon. No earthly honour guard. Just two doves… and a quiet fulfillment of the Law by
the One who came to fulfill it completely.

The Veil—Not Permanent

Let’s talk about the veil.

In the Temple, the veil blocked access to the Most Holy Place—to God Himself (Leviticus 16). It
was a physical reminder of the separation between humanity and holiness. No more walking in
the garden with the Father.

But then—Matthew 27:51: “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom…”

Why?

To signal the end of:

- Ritual separation
- Priestly mediation
- Gendered exclusion

Because if restriction were the goal, why rip the veil from top to bottom? Access was always the
destination (think the garden of Eden). The veil was never meant to be permanent—just
temporary protection until restoration arrived.
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The Law’s Purpose—Tutor, NOT Tyrant

At its core, the Law was never meant to be a tyrant. Galatians 3:24 tells us:

“The Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ.”

That word tutor (or guardian) comes from the Greek paidagōgos—not a teacher in today’s
sense, but a household servant responsible for supervising a child. Disciplining. Correcting.
Escorting them safely to maturity.

That’s what the Law did—it kept humanity in check, exposed our immaturity, and pointed us
toward the need for something greater. Someone greater. The Law wasn’t the solution. It was
the setup for the solution.

Hebrews 10:1 reminds us:

“The Law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”

It served a temporary role:

- To preserve holiness
- To expose our need
- And to point us straight to Christ

The Law said:

“You can’t come near.”

But Jesus says:

“Come boldly.” (Hebrews 4:16)

The tutor stepped aside.

The veil was torn.

And the door was opened—not for the privileged, but for the invited.
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Roman Law and Jewish Law—NOT Allies of Christ

Jesus wasn’t crucified by accident.

He was condemned under Roman law (by Pilate) and Jewish law (by the Sanhedrin).

Both legal systems upheld:

- Patriarchy
- Hierarchy
- Exclusion—of women, slaves, and children

And yet—Jesus submitted to all of it.

Not because He endorsed it, but because He came to subvert it—through the cross.

“We have a law,” they said, “and according to that law He must die.” (John 19:7)

Let that sink in.

Jesus—our Savior, our Redeemer, the One sent to restore what was lost in Eden—was
executed under the authority of the very Law He came to fulfill.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us...” (Galatians 3:13)

The Law condemned Him. Rome drove the nails. But love? Love kept Him there.

So now we have to ask:

- Do we really want to go back to that Law?
- Do we want to live under the system that pronounced Him guilty?
- Or do we want to live under the grace that rose with Him three days later?

Because if we’re still clinging to the letter of the Law—especially the parts written as cultural
accommodation, not divine design—we may just find ourselves aligned with the very system
that crucified Christ.

And that should give us pause. And a lot of it.
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Christ’s Sacrifice—Fulfilled AND Abolished the Law

If the cross was the climax of Law’s condemnation, then the resurrection was its undoing.

“Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them
but to fulfill them.”—Matthew 5:17

Jesus fulfilled every righteous requirement. Every demand. Every standard. Every shadow.

But once fulfilled? He didn’t preserve the dividing lines. Remember those? He tore them down.

“For He Himself is our peace... having destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility... by
setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations.”—Ephesians 2:14–15

The Law had served its purpose.

And Christ—not the Law—became the gate.

“He canceled the written code... nailing it to the cross.”—Colossians 2:14–15

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us.”—Galatians 3:13

He didn’t dodge the Law. He confronted it, fulfilled it, and then abolished what no longer
belonged.

He replaced exclusion with access. He ended priestly hierarchy and called us family. He took
the courtroom and turned it into a table.
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Why NOT Headship in the Law?

Let’s clear something up: patriarchy existed in the world of the Bible—absolutely.

But was it commanded by God? Was it part of the Mosaic Law? Not exactly.

Patriarchy—as in a system where men hold exclusive power over women—was the cultural
reality of the ancient Near East. In that context, women were often treated as property, not
people. They were counted among possessions, denied inheritance, and excluded from most
civil and religious authority.

The civil rules and societal norms of the day limited women severely. But it’s important to
recognize: That was cultural accommodation, not divine endorsement. (Remember, it was not
so in the beginning.)

In fact, when we look closely at the Mosaic Law, we don’t see God assigning spiritual authority
of men over women. The line “he shall rule over you” in Genesis 3:16 is not a command—it’s a
consequence of sin. It describes what would happen in a fallen world, not what should happen.

That power imbalance—man ruling over woman—was part of the curse, not the covenant. And
yet, over time, this consequence was institutionalized into law and theology.

Even Paul’s words were later misread and twisted to justify hierarchy—especially in 1
Corinthians 11 and Ephesians 5.

Let’s look at that word often cited in these texts: kephalē.

In Greek, it means “head”, yes—but not in the sense of ruler or boss.

It means “source.”

In the same way that God is the source of Christ, Paul says that man is the source of
woman—not her superior, not her spiritual authority, not her gatekeeper to God.

And let’s not forget—God promised Christ from the very beginning, right there in Genesis 3:15,
when consequences were being handed down.

- God is the head—the source—of Christ.
- Christ is the source of our redemption.
- Man is the source of woman—not her master.

When Christ came, He fulfilled the Law. When He rose, He abolished the structures that came
with it.

So what does that mean for so-called headship today?

It means this:

Headship as hierarchy died with the Law.

It was never part of God’s original design—only a reflection of our broken one. Amen to that!
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Strength and Nurture—NOT Gender-Locked

Under the Law—and the patriarchal system it was embedded in—strength and leadership were
culturally reserved for men, while nurture and submission were expected of women.

That wasn’t God's original design. (Once again, reflect on the oneness of creation. Remember
the garden of Eden and God’s own words in Genesis 2.) That was a fallen culture, codified into
law. Women were barred from priesthood. Excluded from sacrifice. Counted as property in civil
codes. And yet, at the center of the Gospel, God incarnate enters that system—not to affirm it,
but to overturn it.

When Christ came, He didn’t sidestep the patriarchy—He walked straight through it.

He sacrificed Himself under a legal system that:

- Upheld male dominance,
- Silenced female voices,
- And reinforced exclusion as righteousness.

But when He fulfilled the Law and offered Himself as the final sacrifice, that entire system was
dismantled with Him.

“He set aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations.” (Ephesians 2:15)

“There is neither male nor female… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

The Law had drawn hard lines.

Jesus crossed them.

Under the old system:

- Strength was masculine.
- Nurture was feminine.
- Authority was male.
- Submission was female.

But in the Kingdom?

- Strength is made perfect in weakness.
- Leadership is servanthood.
- Both men and women are called to lead, protect, nurture, and serve.

With Christ’s sacrifice, the legal framework that propped up patriarchy was not preserved—it
was abolished.

What remained?

Only what had always existed in Eden:

Image-bearing, co-dominion, and oneness.

Wasn’t that the promise God made to a fallen humanity in Genesis 3:15?
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Why I Wrote This Tangent

Why did I write this tangent?

Well—funny story. Sort of the same reason I wrote my very first one.

To be honest?

I was offended—offended for God’s daughters. Yeah, sing it to the choir. I know, I know, I’m not
supposed to be offended. Well I am.

I’ve read comment after comment from women, almost pleading:

- “Why doesn’t God love women like He loves men?”
- “Why didn’t God create us equally?”

And the responses?

- Vicious. Condescending.
- Laced with phrases like:

“Submit.”

“You’re a heretic.”

“You’re denouncing Christ.”

“You’re just a feminist.”

(That last one’s my favourite—because apparently, standing up against patriarchal abuse
makes you a raging feminist. SMH.)

Men—and sometimes women—engage in full-blown assaults against anyone who dares
challenge the systems they believe preserve their power. They cling to laws forged in
brokenness, ignoring the very Gospel they claim to uphold.

They quote Deuteronomy, not Christ.

They weaponize consequence, not covenant.

Imagine—in that same Deuteronomic society, if a girl was raped, she had to marry her rapist
(Deut. 22:28–29). Think about that. Really think about that.

Now imagine using that world to define God’s heart.

And here’s what enrages me most:

In this culture—where patriarchy still masquerades as piety—there are those trumpeting
Christianity while denying Christ’s very sacrifice. Yet they cannot see that.

They minimize His daughters, who bear His image, and uphold the same Law that was used to
justify crucifying our Savior. And in doing so, they imply God is complicit—an accessory to their
propaganda. They twist Scripture, sell it as sacred, and call it orthodoxy.

Meanwhile, the New Covenant has already been sealed.

The veil has already been torn.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you
are all one in Christ Jesus.”

—Galatians 3:28

“He has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...”

—Ephesians 2:14

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

—Luke 22:20

And yet—every excuse is made to say that doesn't include women.

- The wall between Jews and Gentiles? Gone.
- Between masters and slaves? Gone.
- But somehow, the wall between men and women? Still standing?

No.

Paul and Jesus—in a patriarchal society—repeatedly defied the system. They didn’t preserve
the rules. They broke them. Because in Christ—the Law was fulfilled—then abolished. The
dividing walls of hostility created by the consequences of the Fall are gone.

The veil has been torn.

And I want women to know this.

Not just intellectually—but at a heart level.

No matter the pushback—no matter the labels—I pray they will reach for their Bible and read
the words of Christ. Not the ones shouted at them from pulpits dripping with power. But the ones
spoken in love, written in blood, and sealed by resurrection.

Because that’s the Gospel.
​
And that is the truth that sets women—and all of us—free.