FIVE WOMEN ON THE LORD’S FAMILY TREE

MATTHEW 1:1-17

Every family has its own uniqueness. Dolly Parton the great gospel singer has helped us to appreciate our families despite the fact that there is no perfect family because there are no perfect people except our Lord Jesus Christ. All families need the grace of God. The genealogy in the book of Matthew shows that Jesus Christ was Jewish in his ancestry. This genealogy is unusual because it mentions five women despite the fact that Jews did not recognize women in their genealogies because Jews are patriarchal. These five women show the marvelous saving grace of God. Let us learn of the amazing grace that has saved sinners like me and you:-

I.  THE FIVE BLOSSOMS IN OUR LORD’S FAMILY.

THAMAR (Gen 38:1-30) V.3

• Thamar (Tamar) was the incestuous daughter in law of Judah.
• Thamar was a Canaanite and therefore a gentile

RAHAB (Joshua 2:1-24) V.5

• Rahab was a gentile, a prostitute and a member of a doomed race.

RUTH (Ruth 7) V.5

• Ruth was a Moabites, a gentile
• She was the poor widow of an Israelite
• Ruth was morally, upright and faithful.
• She as a gentile believed in the God of Israel.

BETHSHEBA (II Sam 11) V.6

• Bethsheba was the adulterous wife of a gentile man called Uriah (II Sam 11:3)
• She committed adultery on her husband while he was away at war.
• She became pregnant as a result of the affair, and did not tell him what had happened.
• She was aware of her lover’s plans to kill her husband and to cover up the sin.
• Bethsheba did nothing to stop her lover from killing her husband.

MARY (Luke 1:26-38) V.16

• Mary was a young pure Israelite girl. She was evidently very spiritual woman.
• Mary was a woman of faith, was willing to yield her life and her reputation to the hand of God.

1. Of the five women mentioned, four were gentiles (dogs!!), one was a Jew. Three of these women were openly sinful. These women came from five nationalities. They become ancestors of Jesus Christ. They were all sinners and in need of a savior. (Romans 3:22, 5:12)

II.  THE BLESSINGS

• Looking deeper in the lives of these five women, there is a blessing for every child of God and for every sinner here present.
• Their names when decoded show the grace of God which saves sinners (Titus 2:11)

1. Thamar (Tamar) means a palm tree. The palm tree speaks of stability and life giving power.

• Palm trees are usually found in hot deserts.
• Jesus Christ our Lord stabilized all of life, He gives purpose to the wayward soul. Jesus Christ is the fountain of life (Eph 2:1, Acts 16:31, I John 5:12)

2. Rahab – wide or broad

• The love of God is so wide and broad, it extends to all people (Jer 31:3, John 3:16)
• God’s grace is available to all, Jesus totally transforms the sinner, making the sinner a new creature (II Cor. 5:17, Rom 10:13, Heb. 11:31)

3. Ruth – a friend

• Jesus is a friend of sinners, He laid His life down for me and you (Matt 11:19)

4. Bethsheba – Daughter of complete satisfaction.

• Souls satisfaction is found in none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (Psalm 107:9, Matt 11:28)

5. Mary – Their rebellion

• Our rebellion against God is sin and sin leads to the hell fire.
• In Jesus Christ there is reconciliation.
• Jesus turns our rebellion into love, obedience and devotion to the will of God (I John 4:19)

III.  THE BEAUTY

• Jesus Christ makes beautiful of every ugly sinner who comes.
• Jesus Christ is not concerned with your origin, background, ancestry, station in life, past sins, future plans or your present status. He will not turn anyone away (John 6:37. He saves now (Eph. 2:8-9)

CONCLUSION

• If Jesus Christ saved Tamar, Rahab, Bethsheba, Ruth and Mary, He will save you and me.
• The grace of God is sufficient to save, keep and satisfy you and me.
• Just come to Christ accept Him as your Lord and Savior – NOW.