HeartGuard score
How suitable a title is for Christian viewers, from 0 to 100. It weighs the content meters and the worldview.
- 80–100RecommendedThis episode
- 60–79Watch with care
- 35–59Think it through
- 15–34Strong caution
- 0–14Not recommended
HeartGuard score
How suitable a title is for Christian viewers, from 0 to 100. It weighs the content meters and the worldview.
- 80–100RecommendedThis episode
- 60–79Watch with care
- 35–59Think it through
- 15–34Strong caution
- 0–14Not recommended
Worldview score
What the story celebrates or condemns.
Why +2 for this episode
The episode honours the Sabbath, God's word and the restoring love of Jesus, showing a healed woman welcoming him to her table.
- +2Affirms faithThis episodePresents faith in God positively and as true
- +1Positive valuesHonesty, sacrifice and family win out
- 0Mixed or neutralNo clear stance
- −1AmbivalentShows sin without judging it either way
- −2Glamorises sinMakes sin look attractive and rewarding
Age guide
How suitable this episode is for each age group.
Why 8+ for this episode
There is no strong language or sexual content, and the tension is mild: Roman pressure on Simon, some deceit, and a strained marriage. Younger children may need help following the adult worries.
- Under 8With a parent
- Ages 8–12Yes
- Ages 13–15Yes
- Ages 16–17Yes
- AdultsYes
A gentle, reverent episode built around a Shabbat meal, with no language or sexual content and only mild tension. Suitable for most families.
Watch guide
What's in it?
LanguageNo swearing
The dialogue contains no profanity. Some characters trade insults in tense exchanges.
BlasphemyNone
God's name is used in prayer, blessings and sincere speech, particularly at the Shabbat meal.
Sex and nudityNone
There is no sexual content. Mary's past life in the Red Quarter forms the background but is not dwelt on here.
RelationshipsStrained marriage
Simon leaves his wife Eden to fish on the Sabbath, and the strain of his debts shows in their marriage. Nicodemus and Zohara appear as a married couple.
ViolenceThreat, little shown
Roman pressure and the threat of punishment hang over Simon, but there is little or no physical violence in this episode.
Frightening scenesMild tension
There are tense moments as Simon fears the Romans and Nicodemus questions people about the healing. Nothing here is frightening for most children.
Drugs and alcoholSocial drinking
Simon buys drinks for merchants and fishermen in a tavern, and wine is part of the Shabbat meal.
AttitudesDeceit, Sabbath-breaking
Simon spies on fellow Jews for the Romans and fishes on the Sabbath, while Matthew is shunned as a collaborator. These choices are shown as costly and troubled.
OccultNone
There is no witchcraft, fortune-telling or other occult practice. Mary's healing is shown as a miracle in a faith setting, and Shabbat prayer and worship are reverent.
- To knowContent to know about
- DiscussWorth discussing
- Early
Healing and restoration
Mary Magdalene, newly healed, prepares for Shabbat and quietly adjusts to her new life.
- Early
Alcohol and deceit
Simon buys drinks for merchants and fellow fishermen while secretly gathering information for the Romans.
- Mid
Testing a miracle
Nicodemus questions people about the reported healing in the Red Quarter, with the approval of the religious council.
- Mid
Marriage strain and Sabbath
Simon goes out fishing on the Sabbath and leaves his wife Eden behind, adding strain to their marriage.
- Late
Hospitality and worship
Surprise guests, including Jesus and two of his students, arrive at Mary's Shabbat dinner. Wine is part of the meal.
- Late
Loneliness and family conflict
Matthew, shunned as a tax collector, chooses to eat alone with his dog rather than join his family.
How to play
- 1. Draw a cardOne person reads the question out loud.
- 2. Everyone answersThere are no wrong answers. Listen before you reply.
- 3. Pass it onThe next person draws, until the deck is done.
Faith & story
What does it say?
What's it about?The plot, without the ending
In first-century Galilee, a Shabbat approaches. Mary Magdalene prepares a meal after her life has been changed. Matthew, a shunned tax collector, weighs in on Simon's dealings with Rome. Simon, deep in debt, spies for the Romans. Nicodemus is sent to investigate rumours of a miracle.
Through a faith lensHow it connects to the Bible
This episode sets two kinds of Sabbath side by side: one kept out of fear and duty, and one kept as rest and welcome. Simon fishes on the Sabbath, driven by debt and by the Romans' hold over him, and so breaks the rest God gave his people. Jesus later taught that the Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. Mary's table, where a woman once bound by darkness now welcomes guests, shows what that rest can look like. Her home echoes the gladness of those who are set free. Nicodemus does what a careful teacher should, testing the report of a healing before he reaches a verdict. He recalls the Bereans, who examined what they heard against Scripture. Matthew's lonely supper, shunned for his work with Rome, recalls the tax collector whom Jesus would not turn away. The episode shows compromise and fear as costly, and welcome and honest enquiry as hopeful, without giving away where each thread leads.
Fruit of the SpiritWhich fruit does it show?
7 out of 9 fruits ripe in this episode
Ripe grapes are shown in the episode, buds are missing
- Patience
- Goodness
Joy shows in Mary's gratitude as she prepares and hosts her Shabbat dinner, and Peace in the calm of the meal once her guests arrive. Kindness and Love show in Jesus and his students, who come warmly to her table. Faithfulness shows in Nicodemus, who keeps the Shabbat and leads the meal with the other Pharisees, and in the household's reverent observance. Gentleness shows in how Jesus welcomes Mary without fuss. Self-control shows in Nicodemus, who weighs the reported healing carefully before judging it. Envy appears in the suspicion and jealousy that surround Jesus' growing reputation among the leaders. Fear also drives Simon to compromise, and the cost of that choice is clear in his strained marriage.
The charactersExamples to follow or avoid
Mary MagdaleneElizabeth TabishA woman recently freed from torment who hosts her first Shabbat dinner, uncertain how to live her new life.
Simon PeterShahar IsaacA fisherman under heavy debt who is pressed into spying for the Romans, and strains his marriage and faith in doing so.
NicodemusErick AvariA senior Pharisee and teacher of the law who is sent to examine the reported healing carefully and faithfully.
MatthewParas PatelA tax collector cut off from his community, who is lonely and trying to make sense of his place.
Jesus of NazarethJonathan RoumieA teacher who arrives warmly at Mary's table with his students.
How Christians are portrayed
Faith is portrayed warmly and respectfully, with Jewish worship at its centre. Observance is shown as living and sincere, though the characters also wrestle with fear, debt and doubt. Pharisees are portrayed as people with real questions, and Nicodemus in particular as a careful seeker rather than a caricature.
Community
What other Christians think
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Review
Helpful reviewer
The star beside a name
Given to members whose reviews 25 or more people have marked Helpful.
It rewards reviews that help other families decide, not how many someone writes. It's a sign others have found their reviews thoughtful, not a verdict on anyone's faith.
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Details
Episode details
- Cast
- Erick Avari, Jonathan Roumie, Shahar Isaac, Elizabeth Tabish
- First aired
- Apr 21, 2019
- Created by
- Dallas Jenkins
- Networks
- Prime Video, VidAngel, Angel
- Genre
- Action & Adventure, Family, Drama
- Episode length
- 38m
- Age rating
- US TV-PG · UK 12
How we analysed this
We gathered the episode's summary, its reception and facts about the series that independent sources agree on, then rated each content area against our rubric and worldview scale, using AI models calibrated on reference titles. Not yet reviewed by our team. Confidence: medium.
Score = 100 − 16 × content concern (1.22) + 8 × worldview (+2) = 96
This is a guide to help families choose with wisdom, not a verdict on anyone's conscience ().
Updated 2026-10-14