Imperfect Family Tree for the Perfect Messiah

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Matthew 1:1

Abraham was the father of the nation so that is where Matthew started. David was God's chosen king- the only one of whom He said was a man after God's own heart. Though neither was perfect as is recorded in their stories in the Old Testament. But the women mentioned in this genealogy are what caught my attention this time as I was reading and starting writing this almost four months ago, sometime around Christmas. I was reading the passages pertaining to the birth of Christ and Matthew 1:1-17 arrested my attention. These women in the genealogy occupied my thoughts for a number of days. Women were not usually included in a genealogy in this day and time and so it is rather unusual that Matthew did include them. They are not included in the begets in Luke's gospel. Of course, the scriptures are God breathed and thus God had a purpose in each author writing what they did to the people who would first receive it and for us as we read it today.

There are 5 women mentioned in this family tree: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, the wife of Uriah, and Mary. Let's look at each of them a bit:

“And Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar,” Matthew 1:3a

Tamar: was initially Judah's daughter-in-law...Genesis 38 recounts her rather sordid story. But here is a very short synopsis: The custom in this time was that if a man died without an heir and his brother was not already married, he would take his brothers wife and produce an heir for his brother. This is what happened in Tamar's case. She was given to the first son and then to the second both died without producing heirs because of their wickedness in the sight of the Lord. Tamar was sent back to her father in widows clothing with a promise of the last son when he was old enough. After quite some time, during which Judah's wife died, and hearing that Judah was coming to a town near her, realizing that the third son would never be offered to her, Tamar disguised herself and sat at the entrance to the city. Twins, Perez and Zerah were conceived because Judah thought Tamar was a prostitute. He was going to have her killed when her pregnancy was discovered until she revealed that he was the father.

“And Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab,” Matthew 1:5a

Rahab: was a foreigner, a traitor to her own country, and a prostitute but she trusted in God and was saved. Her story is in Joshua 2; and also Joshua 6:17, 23-25.

This is her statement of faith to the spies that she hid:

"And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath." - Joshua 2:11 ESV

She is honored not only in being in the family tree of the Messiah but is also lauded in what is called the hall of faith in Hebrews:

"By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies." - Hebrews 11:31 ESV

And was an illustration along with Abraham in James when he is explaining that faith without works is dead:

"And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?" - James 2:25 ESV

Evidently, she married into the tribe of Judah. Why did God, who had chosen Israel as His people allow a foreigner in? This is not the first time or the last. God was not being exclusive. Israel was to be a people to show forth the mercies of God.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”John 3:16 ESV

Whoever – that includes you! Jesus Christ is a Saviour for all who call upon His name!

“And Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth,” Matthew 1:5b

Ruth: another foreigner and childless widow. She is probably a lot more familiar to you as there is a book of the Bible named after her. She left her own country and family to return to the land of the Jews to be with her mother-in-law but also and more importantly she left her nations gods to follow after the Lord God, the one true God. I encourage you to read Ruth. It is a short book and quite interesting. Also, a lovely picture of Christ as the kinsman redeemer in Boaz. Here is her statement of faith that she spoke to her mother-in-law:

"But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." - Ruth 1:16 ESV

The wife of Uriah: Bathsheba – another woman caught up in the sins of a man who was a leader for God's chosen people, an imperfect man but one of whom God said was a man after His own heart. Maybe partially because of this reaction to being confronted with his sin:

"To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions." - Psalm 51:1 ESV

It is another sordid story captured in 2 Samuel 11:1-12:25. David, King of Israel, did not go out to war with his men but stayed behind. He saw Bathsheba bathing, lusted after her and had her brought to him. I don't know if you could say no to the king. We are not told if she tried. But he knew that she was a married woman and wanted her anyway. She became pregnant. David sent for Uriah to come home, hoping that he would be with Bathsheba and hide that the child was his. Uriah was faithful to his troop not feeling that he should be allowed any pleasures when his buddies were at war. (You should read about Uriah's faithfulness. I think it is possibly why his name is there.) Since David couldn't get Uriah to even go to his wife though he tried various measures, he sent him back to the fight with instructions to put him in the front lines so that he would be killed. So if you can't cover up your infidelity you can always resort to murder by war! God was not pleased!!! After a small mourning period, I am sure time was of the essence, David brought Bathsheba to him to be his wife. The child that she bore died. She became pregnant again and gave birth to a son, Solomon, who became king after David and he, Solomon, was the son who places “the wife of Uriah” in the linage of the Messiah.

“And...Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:16

Mary the unknown virgin who gave birth to the awaited Messiah!

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). " - Matthew 1:18 ESV

You would assume that the God of the universe would want a pure lineage for Himself and yet His word says that there is not one who is pure, no not one. No one who has ever lived on this earth is without sin save Jesus Christ. And that is exactly the reason He came to die in our place. God calls sinners unto Himself and He honors those whom we might not choose to honor at all. The culture that existed at the time of the writing of the Bible certainly did not honor women and yet the Lord did.

If for some reason you are thinking that you are not good enough to come to God or good enough for Him to want you. I hope that this examination of the lineage of Christ will help to prove to you that He is not looking for people who are “good enough” - no one qualifies. God in His great love has taken sinful, sometimes faithful people, sometimes faithless people and called them to Himself to be in relationship with Him. He longs for us to know Him.

O Abba, help us to see Your generous love as You again and again stoop down to invite us into Your presence that we might be Your children, Your friends, Your treasured ones. Help us to know as women (and men) who may feel unseen that You do see us and long for us to see You and know You and be championed and cared for by You. Open our eyes and hearts to know that You honor and cherish those that You love. In Jesus name, amen.