Five Women in the Genealogy of Jesus and Why They Matter
The genealogy of Jesus Christ, as presented in the Gospel of Matthew, is a profound theological statement, tracing the lineage from Abraham to Joseph, the legal father of Jesus. While ancient genealogies typically focused on the male line, Matthew's account is strikingly unique in its inclusion of five women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, "her that had been the wife of Urias" (Bathsheba), and Mary. This unconventional inclusion serves as a powerful testament to God's sovereign plan, His grace, and His willingness to work through unexpected individuals and circumstances to bring about His redemptive purposes. These women, each with a distinctive story, illuminate the breadth of God's grace and foreshadow the inclusive nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Tamar: Righteousness Through Unconventional Means
Tamar's story, found in Genesis 38, is one of scandal and unconventional righteousness. She was the daughter-in-law of Judah, one of Jacob's sons. After her first two husbands died, Judah withheld his youngest son, Onan, from her, fearing he too would die. Left without a husband and an heir, Tamar resorted to a desperate, yet divinely purposed, scheme to secure her rightful place in the lineage. Disguising herself as a harlot, she conceived by Judah himself. When her pregnancy became known, Judah was ready to condemn her, but upon realizing she was pregnant by him through his own pledges, he declared:
She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
Tamar's inclusion in the Messiah's lineage, despite the scandalous nature of her actions, highlights God's ability to work through human sin and cultural norms to fulfill His divine promises. Her desperate pursuit of the lineage, even if flawed in method, ultimately served to ensure the continuation of the line through which Christ would come. She bore Perez and Zerah, and it was through Perez that the Davidic line, and ultimately Jesus, descended. Her story is a powerful reminder that God's plan is not thwarted by human failure or unconventional circumstances.
Rahab: Faith of an Outcast
Rahab, a harlot from Jericho, is perhaps one of the most surprising inclusions in the Messianic line. Her story is recounted in Joshua 2 and Joshua 6. When Joshua sent two spies to scout Jericho, Rahab hid them, demonstrating extraordinary faith in the God of Israel, even as a Canaanite. She confessed her belief:
And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
Rahab's faith led her to protect the spies, resulting in her and her family's salvation when Jericho fell. She is later identified in Matthew 1:5 as the mother of Boaz, who would marry Ruth. Rahab's Gentile background and her former profession underscore God's boundless grace and His willingness to include those considered outcasts by society. Her story demonstrates that salvation is by faith, not by ethnicity or social standing, foreshadowing the universal offer of salvation through Christ to both Jew and Gentile.
Ruth: Loyalty and Redemption
Ruth, a Moabite woman, enters the genealogy through her extraordinary loyalty and faith. The book of Ruth tells her story. After her Israelite husband died in Moab, Ruth chose to leave her homeland and cleave to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and to Naomi's God. Her famous declaration to Naomi is a testament to her devotion:
Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Ruth's faithfulness led her to glean in the fields of Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi's late husband. Boaz, acting as a kinsman-redeemer, married Ruth, bringing her into the covenant community and securing the lineage. She became the great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:17). Ruth's inclusion, as a Gentile from a nation historically antagonistic to Israel, further emphasizes God's redemptive plan that extends beyond ethnic boundaries. Her story beautifully illustrates themes of loyalty, redemption, and the inclusion of foreigners into God's family, all of which are central to the Gospel message of Christ.
Her that had been the wife of Urias (Bathsheba): Grace Amidst Sin
Matthew refers to the fourth woman simply as "her that had been the wife of Urias" (Matthew 1:6), conspicuously avoiding her name, Bathsheba. This deliberate phrasing highlights the scandalous circumstances of her union with King David, rather than her personal identity. The account in 2 Samuel 11 details David's adultery with Bathsheba and his subsequent murder of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. This act brought severe judgment upon David's house. Yet, from this union, after the death of their first child, came Solomon, through whom the Messianic line continued.
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
The inclusion of Bathsheba, identified by her past trauma and David's great sin, is a stark reminder of God's ability to work through human failure, sin, and even tragedy. It underscores that God's plan is not dependent on human perfection but on His divine sovereignty and grace. It reveals that the lineage of the Messiah is not one of flawless individuals but of fallen humanity, demonstrating that Jesus came not for the righteous, but for sinners. This inclusion powerfully prefigures Christ's redemptive work, where He takes on the sins of humanity to bring salvation.
Mary: The Virgin Mother of God Incarnate
The fifth woman, Mary, stands in stark contrast to the others. She is not mentioned in connection with any scandal or Gentile background, but rather as the virgin chosen by God to conceive Jesus by the Holy Ghost. Matthew states:
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Mary's story, detailed in Luke 1, is one of divine intervention and humble obedience. She was a virgin betrothed to Joseph when the angel Gabriel announced that she would conceive the Son of God. Her response, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word" (Luke 1:38), epitomizes faith and submission. Mary's unique role as the virgin mother highlights the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Her conception was not of man but of God, emphasizing that Jesus is truly God Incarnate, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14. Her inclusion signifies the supernatural beginning of the Messiah's life, setting Him apart from all other men and establishing His divine claim as the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Why They Matter: God's Sovereign Grace and Redemptive Plan
The inclusion of these five women in the genealogy of Jesus is profoundly significant for several reasons. First, it challenges the patriarchal norms of the time, highlighting God's active involvement with and valuing of women in His redemptive plan. Second, it showcases God's **sovereignty** over human circumstances, sin, and cultural barriers. Tamar's desperation, Rahab's past, Ruth's ethnicity, Bathsheba's sin, and Mary's virginity all demonstrate that God works through imperfect people and unconventional means to accomplish His perfect will.
Furthermore, these women illustrate the **inclusive nature** of God's grace. Rahab and Ruth, both Gentiles, foreshadow the breaking down of the wall between Jew and Gentile through Christ's sacrifice. Their stories underscore that salvation is offered to all who believe, regardless of their background or previous life. The presence of Tamar and Bathsheba, linked to scandalous or sinful situations, powerfully demonstrates God's ability to redeem and use even the most broken aspects of human history. Their inclusion points to the truth that Jesus came to save sinners, not the righteous.
Ultimately, these five women matter because they collectively paint a vivid picture of the Gospel itself. They reveal a God who is not confined by human expectations, social norms, or moral failings. He is a God who orchestrates history, weaving together diverse lives—some scandalous, some faithful, some ordinary—to bring forth the promised Messiah. Their stories testify to the breadth of God's grace, the depth of His mercy, and the unwavering certainty of His redemptive plan, all culminating in Jesus Christ, the Savior of all humanity.