MATTHEW 1.
Matthew from Jesus’ genealogy revealed something about God’s love and mercy. His list includes adulterers, etc. Even more striking, he included the names of some women – something that Jewish genealogies normally did not do since ancestry was traced through men. All of these women were either foreigners or of questionable character.
Tamar was probably a Canaanite. After she was widowed twice, her father-in-law, Judah, failed to arrange her marriage with his surviving son as the Law required. Tired of waiting, Tamar pretended to be a prostitute and slept with Judah.
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho, a city destined for destruction because of its wickedness. She later married an Israelite from the tribe of Judah and had a son named Boaz.
Ruth came from Moab. According to Deuteronomy 23:3, no Moabite could be “admitted to the assembly of the Lord.” But she accepted the God of her husband’s family. She chose to follow her mother-in-law to Israel, Boaz married her. Their first son was King David’s grandfather.
Bathsheba was originally married to Uriah, she may have been a Hittite. The child born from her adultery with David died (2 Samuel 11-12), but they later had Solomon, who succeeded his father as king.
God included these women in the Messiah’s line despite their backgrounds and mistakes. He wanted to make it clear that his mercy and grace extends to everyone.
No matter how many skeletons in our closets, no one is outside God’s grace unless he or she chooses to remain there.
