As part of my new year challenge I challenged the people of OVCF to spend their year in the Gospels, reading them over and over all year. I was already most of the way through the New Testament when the new year started so I went ahead and finished what I set as my goal. Yesterday I started reading Matthew 1. I realize that what I am about to write may be “old hat” to some of you but for some perhaps it may be new. I have read it over and over, preached on it several times but I never tire of reading or talking about it. Let me explain:
One of the last things anyone ever wants to do when they read the Bible is read a geneology. How many ways can you say B-O-R-I-N-G? Least that is the thought that runs through most of our heads. I get that way with those Old Testament “trees” and for the longest time just skipped over Matthew 1:1-17. Until several years ago when I really took a good long look at it. Man, there is so much good stuff in it! One of the “majorly” good things in it is a fantastic picture of God’s grace. “Huh?’ you say. Yep, a great lesson on grace. Read that passage again and pick out what is unusual. Not finding anything? Read real slowly. As you read take a pen or something that doesn’t bleed through Bible paper and underline these four names: Tamar. Rahab. Ruth. Wife of Uriah (Bathsheba). Now that you have done that you may be wondering, “What is abnormal about that?” Actually, tons. Let me explain:
1. All four are woman. To understand the impact of that you must understand the place of women culturally during bible days.
2. All four have a “stain” on them.
- Tamar played the harlot to her father-inlaw because he himmed and hawed about allowing his youngest son to marry her. Two of his others sons had already died while married to her. Tamar was also a Canaanite.
- Rahab was the one who hid the two spies from Israel when they came to spy out Jericho. Rahab was a Gentile and a harlot.
- Ruth was also a Gentile, a Moabitess, whose people were the product of an incestuous relationship between Lot and his two unmarried daughters. As a Moabite and a pagan she had no right to marry an Israelite but God’s grace not only brought her into the family of Israel but later through Boaz into the roayl line.
- The wife of Uriah (Bathsheba) was the one whom David had an adulteress relationship with and eventually became the mother of Solomon.
The genealogy of Jesus is more than a list of ancient names; it is even more a list of Jesus’ human line, one filled with all kinds of people. It is a beautiful testimony to God’s grace and to the one who was to become “the friend of sinners.” I thank God His grace also included me. 
Wow, that is fantastic! I of course skpped over this passage without a thought.
Last term I did a course on the NT looking at various characters, especially the women (eg, Martha & Mary; the nameless woman annointing Jesus at Bethany; Mary Magdalene). Next time I see the Prof I’ll have to tell him about this.
Thank you!
You are welcome Ivan. I think it is awesome to find something new whenever you read the Bible. I never tire of that. Thanks for dropping by.
Thanks for the reminder…
How quickly we forget the blessings in what seems mundane!
Another great lesson is that while we may come from broken people (we all do), the truth of who our parents, grandparents and earlier ancestors were, does not determine the final outcome of who we are to become.
Whether our family has been caught up in cycles of abusive relationships, addiction, adultery, etc., we do not have to live in that. We are, in Christ, transformed into new creatures with a focus that looks upward to the Kingdom and toward our King rather than inward or to the things of this world.
One more thing to add. A more detailed lineage is charted in Luke 3. There we are reminded that it didn’t start at Abraham. Abraham’s father Terah and others were included, who were outside of the faith covenant.
This says that, while my (and some of your reader’s) parents were not believers and while I/we was not raised in church, there is still hope for me/us as well.
All things, including questionable family trees are redeemed through Jesus Christ.
You’re welcome Steve. And you said it just right.
Ken: thanks for the added comments. They are good points to add and to know. Are we all glad our “trees” are redeemed?
Francine Rivers has a series of 5 books about these women and Mary, mother of Jesus. The are fiction, but still seem to be historically/Biblically accurate.
The story (and outcome of Bathsheba) really humbles me. So many times, her “story” ends after she is brought to the palace. However, it was she that gave David godly offspring. Unless I am missing something obvious, or forgotten someone (both of which are daily occurrences with me) none of his other sons by other wives followed God.
Great point about Bathsheba Karma! Often forgotten point. Thanks for dropping by.
“Blessed be the weak, for they shall inherit the Earth.”
Good point Will. Thanks for adding in to the discussion.