The character of this gospel is given to us in the first verse of chapter 1; it is addressed more particularly to the Jews and Christ is herein presented as the promised Messiah and King V.1. So all points back to these two promises: the one made to Abraham whose seed would be blessed (Gen. 22:18) and multiplied (Gen. 15:5) and to the one made to David whose son would sit on the throne of Israel forever (2 Sam. 7:13, 16). Any Jew would be well disposed to receive a powerful savior to claim and vindicate these promises and accomplish them with might. But the state of the heart of man requires a savior of a different kind, one full of grace and mercy rather than force and violence. In this genealogy of the Lord Jesus, four women only (excluding Mary mentioned at the end) are specifically mentioned, each bringing to memory the mercy, forgiveness and grace of God towards his people: Tamar (v.3, woman from Genesis 38) recalling Judah's sin yet God did not discard his association from the messianic lineage; Rahab, (v.5) the harlot from Jericho, associated by the grace of God with his people and not only that, she will also give birth to one of David's ancestors and of Christ according to the flesh; the same for Ruth (v.5) the moabitess of whom God had said they would never enter into the congregation of Israel (De. 23:3); finally her that had been the wife of Urias (v.6) mentioned by this very name recalling she had been the wife of one who was cowardly murdered to serve the passion and cover the adultery of king David; this very one, Bath-Sheba, would become through David the mother of Salomon. So, those who vaunted themselves of having Abraham for father had also Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Urias wife, Bath-Sheba appearing in their national history. Can we not see in this inspired recollection of Messiah's ancestors and the mention of these four specific women an evidence of God's mercy, grace and pardon, things that should humble the hearts of the children of Israel and ours also? Let us appreciate in a greater measure the tenderness of God's heart towards the believers who offends even today (James 3:2) and may He enlarge our hearts towards those to whom He want to show mercy.
NOTE: All Bible references are from the King James Version unless otherwise specified. All unsigned material is in the spirit of Ecc. 12:11. Send all correspondence, comments, suggestions to: dailysowers@tlb.sympatico.ca
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