Genealogy Women

by Whit Sasser

The genealogy of Jesus Christ, recorded in chapter 1 of Matthew, is interesting and educational in more ways than one. But, one item of interest has to be the women who are mentioned. Generally, it is a list of the male ancestors of Jesus beginning with Abraham, but a few women are identified and other than Mary, Jesus mother (Matthew 1:16), consider these others.

“Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar.” (Matthew 1:3). Tamar was Judah’s daughter-in-law, who he had sex with, thinking she was a prostitute.

Speaking of prostitutes, “Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab” (Matthew 1:5). Of the eight times Rahab’s name is mentioned in the Bible, five of those times she is called "Rahab, the harlot”.

Also in verse 5, we read, “Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth”. We admire Ruth for her love and dedication to her mother-in-law, but she was a Moabite woman, a Gentile, as was Rahab, too.

Then there is this: “David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah” (Matthew 1:6). Her name is Bathsheba, but Matthew reminds us that she was really the wife of another man before David took her away from her husband.

What do we learn from these women? We learn that God can use anyone to bring about His purposes. He enjoys choosing the despised and rejected of this world to accomplish great things (I Corinthians 1:26-29).