SKELETONS IN THE GENEALOGY

The first chapter of the New Testament (Matthew 1) lists the genealogy of Christ, going back as far as Abraham. Normally, in the ancient world, such lists would only mention the men, but Matthew lists five women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba (obliquely referred to as “she who had been the wife of Uriah”) and Mary.

None of these women bore their children in what could be considered normal circumstances. Tamar became pregnant to her father-in-law, Judah, after posing as a prostitute. Rahab was described as a prostitute in Jericho (although Josephus calls her an inn-keeper). Ruth was a widow from a foreign nation. Bathsheba bore her son as a result of adultery. And Mary? Well, she bore her first son while she was still a virgin!

Rahab, by the way, could not have been the actual mother of Boaz, there being some 400 years gap in the history. This is an example of a genealogy that lists ancestors. We might read it as “Salmon was the ancestor of Boaz by Rahab”.

There are lots of theories as to why Matthew would omit famous Hebrew matriarchs like Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel and include Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba instead. Here’s my theory.

Matthew’s inspired purpose in writing his gospel was to show that Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ. But His mother was not even married when He was conceived. How could that be from God?

No problem. There were plenty of unusual marital situations among the ancestors of Jesus. God is well able to outwork His purposes, even through strange and diverse circumstances. Perhaps Matthew included these women to answer Jews who questioned the credentials of Jesus to be Messiah.

And the lesson for us? Mistakes, abuse, adversities, these things cannot prevent God from working His will for us. He is well able to make: “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)