Have you ever heard of Matthew? Like Matthew, Mark & Luke? Saint Matthew? He wrote an account of Jesus’ life. And the way he started this account was with a genealogy. Yeah, those lists of families that bore people away from the Bible. Well, this genealogy is worth reading. Usually genealogies are a list of men. This list includes 4 women. Four women that were…well, questionable. One was a prostitute, one slept with her father-in-law, one was an enemy of the Jews and the other was an adulterous woman. And these women brought Jesus’ line into the world. See for yourself…
A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:
Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,
Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah…
Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,
and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Isn’t that weird? At church, we’ve already started a big Christmas series. Our pastor is going to talk about these unexpected women over the next few weeks. (Hello Racy for Christmas!) This week he talked about WHY Matthew would have included these women in the first place. What’s the point? Wouldn’t it kind of put a damper on Jesus’ holiness to be associated with these women?
Well, that was kind of the point. Matthew was a bad dude himself. He was a traitor to the Jews by being a tax collector. And when he decided to follow Jesus they were having a party at Matthew’s house. And who came to the party? “Sinners” and other tax collectors. The Jewish leaders were so out of sorts they said, “Why is Jesus hanging out with this scum?”
And Jesus rocks it by saying, “It’s not the healthy that need a doctor.”. Yeah, those people were sick with sin. But what was Jesus doing? Making them be like the religious leaders? Demanding perfection? Nope. He was having a party. He was hanging with them. Loving them. Honoring them.
This holiday season I’m thankful for the fact that Jesus gives mercy and doesn’t demand my sacrifice. He was my sacrifice when He died on the cross for me. It’s not about what I CAN DO for Him. It’s about what HE DID FOR ME.
Matthew, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and I are sinners included in Jesus family because of His mercy and love. Not because of something we did or gave up. Thank you, Jesus for loving me! For counting me worthy of your sacrifice!
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
The Diaper Diaries says
Francine Rivers did a great series of novellas on these women. I would highly recommend them if you haven’t read them.
oh amanda says
Oh yeah. I forgot about those! The Lineage of Grace series:
http://www.amazon.com/Lineage-Grace-Christian-Softcover-Originals/dp/0842356320/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259002383&sr=8-2
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Liz says
My favorite person in the genealogy is Ruth. She was a Moabitess, a foreigner and of the worst foreigners she could be. She chose to remain with Naomi when she returned to Bethlehem, to leave her idols and follow the God of Israel. In God’s great plan, she found favor with Boaz, just as we foreigners and enemies of God find favor in His sight. It’s such a fabulous story of redemption.
.-= Liz´s last blog ..Nov. 22, Thankful for God’s Faithfulness =-.
Katherin says
I was in 2nd grade at Holy Cross Catholic School, Euclid Ohio. We were suppose to make a bird house over the weenekd. My dad wanted to help me make one using the bark off of a tree covering the outside of it. I hated it! It looked so different from everyone else painted bird houses .But my teacher loved it and I won the prize for best bird house I couldn’t wait to get home and tell my Dad. Then I loved it
Hillary @ The Other Mama says
I think my fav is Tamar the prostitute. Thank you Jesus that you would hang out with the sinners! I know that would be a thin group of perfect people and I wouldn’t be there, for sure!
.-= Hillary @ The Other Mama´s last blog ..A Perfect Thanksgiving =-.
Tricia says
Sounds like a great sermon series!
Cathy says
I don’t know why He loves us, but I’m so glad He does!
.-= Cathy´s last blog ..Thanksgiving Poem =-.
Paula says
Beautifully said, Amanda! I love this. It’s so important to remember, especially when we get on our occasional “holier than thou” kick. Grace is the most amazing gift ever!
Amy says
Love this! Fits right in with a post brewing in my head.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Twilight Saga: Vampire Violence – Please explain =-.
Hovik says
If it weren’t for Dave Miller, I wouldn’t have a dad My biiolgocal father split when I was just a baby. I’ve never known him. My mother remarried and this man has been my dad ever since.He has emotionally supported me, morally supported me, and financially supported me. He instilled hard work and ethics in me at a very young age. He also taught me the importance of school. Once I turned 18, I was forced by law to use my biiolgocal father’s last name but he will never be my dad. As I graduate with my first college degree next Friday, I have hyphened my last name on my diploma to show my dad that it was HIM that taught me that hard work and determination will pay off.I remind him every father’s day that it takes a true man to raise another man’s child as his own. And THAT is my favorite memory of my dad.
Lala says
Matthew is one of my favorite books. Probably from going to Christian School and we sang this song to remember the new books of the bible. When we got to Matthew Chapter 5…..I fell in love. At age 5 if you can believe it! I loved all the blessings that the lord was going to bestow upon us. Really…I can’t even imagine now how I understood that but I have been blessed with his Grace ever since!
Lovely blog!
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Grain says
My favorite meroeims have been the time spent in the KITCHEN with my dad. He taught me all of his tricks of the trade from baking the fluffiest rolls to cooking a juicy pot roast.I never realized until I was older (and married) how incredibly rare it is to find a man who can not just cook, but cook delicious food. Because of him My pride and joy is cooking and something I am known for.How many women can say, I’m the cook I am today because of my DAD!! ?Thanks dad!
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