“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:…Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar,…Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth…David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah…And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”  Mtt.1:1-16

by Dwight Edwards

The gospel of Matthew was written to a Jewish audience with the intent of demonstrating that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the awaited Messiah, rightful Heir of the throne of David. For the Jews, pedigree was not important...it was absolutely crucial. Thus, very understandably, Matthew begins by a detailed genealogy of Jesus Christ as both the Son of David and the Son Abraham. This had to be established before he could go any further.

What isn’t so understandable is why five women are included in the account. There was no compelling, historical need for their names to be included. What isn’t so understandable is why at least three, if not four, were Gentiles (“poor, white trash” or “nigger” in our cultural equivalency). What isn’t so understandable is why three of them had less than stellar reputations. What isn’t so understandable is why two of them engaged in prostitution (Tamar, Rahab). What isn’t so understandable is why one of them engaged in prostitution as a way of life. Why in the world choose these women to help prove the royal blood of the Messiah? For that matter, when was the last time you heard of a daughter named Bathsheba, Tamar, or Rahab?

Fact of the matter is that grace is never understandable. The people God reaches out to and works through in this world are the broken, desperate, and foolish (I Cor.1:26-29). Broken enough to fully recognize and embrace their own sinfulness. Desperate enough to give up their own idolatrous strongholds and flee to the Rock that is higher than them. Foolish enough to simply take God at His word. Foolish enough to trust in His simple, naked promise of forgiveness and restoration.

Indeed, the recorded genealogy of Jesus Christ provides hope of stunning proportions. Hope that no failure need be final. Hope that God eagerly invites wayward sons and daughters back to the banquet table of restored, vital intimacy with Him. Hope that He uses only one kind of person to accomplish His work through – those who have failed. He simply has no other material to work with. And so maybe it’s a bit more understandable why Matthew, the former tax collector, included these women in his genealogy. Radically forgiven sinners feel a special bond with other radically forgiven sinners. And if we even remotely know ourselves, we too will join him in that same bond. The true bond of Christmas.