The Women In Jesus' Family Tree


In Matthew we read of the genealogy of Jesus. His lineage is traced from Abraham, to David, to the birth of Jesus. Genealogies were an important part of Hebrew culture. In Jesus' case it's more than cultural though. It had been prophesied who the Messiah would descend from. Establishing who Jesus' forefathers were was a key element in establishing that he was in fact, "The Chosen One."

Women are not always included in a genealogy, and for the most part Matthew's would not be different. Although we do also descend from our mothers, Matthew would trace back the lineage of Christ through the father's. Nonetheless in his 42 generations he does choose to include 4 women. With so few a number I can't help but believe that they were chosen strategically as he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. So who were they?

Tamar: Her husband had died before she had a child. In Hebrew culture her father-in-law is to give her to one of his younger sons as a wife, but Judah fails to do so. Tamar responds by dressing as a prostitute, sitting on the side of the road on her former father-in-law's route, and he hires her for her services. She gets pregnant with twins, and from Perez the lineage of Christ continues. (Genesis 38)

Rahab: She's the prostitute from Jericho who hides the spies when they come to investigate prior to the walls coming down. She is promised to be spared when Jericho is destroyed. After Jericho is destroyed she joins the Israelites, marries a guy named Salmon, and is the mother of Boaz. From Boaz the lineage of Christ continues. (Joshua 2)

Ruth: The Moabites were enemies of Israel who had a history of oppressing them. Yet a young Hebrew family moved to Moab during a famine and their son married Ruth. When tragedy struck and both husband and father-in-law were killed, Ruth moved to Israel with her mother in law, Naomi, and ends up marrying Boaz (son of the former prostitute). She would give birth to Obed. From Obed the lineage of Christ continues. (Ruth 4)

Bathsheba: David spotted Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, bathing outside from the roof of his palace, and sent his chariot for her. The affair would result in a pregnancy. In an effort to cover his sin, David brought the soldier home from battle in hopes that he would lay with his own wife and believe the baby to be his. He doesn't so the plan escalates and David has him killed. Bathsheba then becomes David's wife and gives birth to Solomon. From Solomon the lineage of Christ continues. (II Samuel 11)

Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba; seduction, prostitution, a foreign enemy, and an affair. These are the 4 women included in Jesus' genealogy. Why? Why not paint a prettier picture of the family tree, and leave the skeletons in the closet? Because these women weren't just who Jesus came from, they were who Jesus came for.

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29

Ever feel like you don't belong in the family of God because of the sins of your past? I have good news! You're exactly who God is looking for. We're why Jesus came. 

Following the Son,

James A Williams

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