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[expand title=”Devotion Text”]Matthew 1:1-6a
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
There are some surprising people included in Jesus’ genealogy. Yesterday we considered several observations about Matthew’s list (Matthew 1:1-17). Today we will consider four women in Jesus’ lineage:
- Tamar. She was the wife of Judah’s son, Er. Due to her husband’s untimely death and the subsequent mistreatment by his brothers, Tamar posed as a prostitute, slept with Judah, and became pregnant. Not an ancestral story you share proudly.
- Rahab. She was helpful to the spies Joshua sent on a reconnaissance mission to Jericho. Her occupation: prostitute.
- Ruth. Her story is one of faithfulness and loyalty to her mother-in-law, Naomi. After Naomi lost her husband and sons, the young widow, Ruth, left her people to follow Naomi back to Israel. God graciously introduced Ruth to a new husband, Boaz. But remember, Ruth was a foreigner from Moab. Moabite blood was not welcomed into the line of the Jewish people.
- David and Bathsheba. Certainly, King David was an important person in Jesus’ lineage. However, right after he introduces the king, Matthew writes, “And David was the father of Solomon, by the wife of Uriah…” That reference to the sordid story of adultery, deceit, and murder appears right in the middle of the Messiah’s genealogy.
Some commentary on the inclusion of the prostitutes, foreigners, and adulterers in the ancestry of Jesus offers the following analysis:
“Matthew may have included these [individuals] in order to emphasize that God’s choice in dealing with people are all of His grace. Perhaps also he included these [people] to put Jewish pride in its place.” (Walvoord, John F. and Zuck, Roy B. (1983). The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook.)
Talking to God
Father, as we consider our lineage, remind us of your great grace and keep us humble as we recognize those who are less than perfect, just as we are less than perfect. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
For parents: Share your genealogy with your children. Be real and honest in age-appropriate ways. Emphasize God’s grace in the past, which gives confidence for God’s grace in the present and future. Share your insights with us at prayer@ronmoore.org.
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