The gospel of Matthew begins with a genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. The striking feature of this list is the four women it includes. The first woman listed is Tamar, a woman who used an extreme and shocking method to conceive and bear her child Perez. (Read the story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis 38.) Next named is Rahab, a harlot from the city of Jericho. Ruth and Bathsheba are also recorded. Ruth came from the country of Moab and was not one of God’s chosen people. Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah when she committed adultery with David.
The previous characters of these women make them unlikely candidates for the genealogy of the Lord Jesus. To mention them within a Biblical genealogy list seems even more incredible. I am struck by the thought of a gracious God who uses sinners to accomplish His will. One who even gives recognition to those sinners. He Himself will give a sign. In a way it seems as if He is above such things, and yet He does them for our sakes, for the sake of sinners who often fail to acknowledge Him in everyday life. Our reaction ought to be one of gratitude and worship.
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