Ancestry of Jesus (Matthew 1:7-15)

Ruth. The third woman was a Moabite. Ancient history says that she was a descendant of one of Lot’s daughters who had had sex with their father. She lived in a foreign land and after her first husband died, she moved to Israel with Naomi, her mother in-law. This foreign woman was married to Boaz by leverite marriage and gave birth to Obed. Later Obed was the father of Jesse, the father of King David. Now why was she included in this list of names? It was not necessary!

Second Fourteen Descendants. Matthew then proceeds to give us the next group of fourteen names which starts with Solomon and goes through Jeconiah.

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. (NASB) Matt. 1:7-11

This list includes the names of kings including one notable king named Josiah. In 2 Kings God has incredible praise for this man,

Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him. (NASB) 2 Kings 23:25

Josiah loved God more than any king before him including King David and King Solomon. The first time I read this passage I was filled with emotion. I stopped and asked God to help me love Him more than anyone and more than anything. I wanted to love God as King Josiah had. God looks inside our hearts and He knows all about our feelings. He wants our hearts. He wants our love. He wants our friendship. King Josiah willingly loved Him. What is the cry of your heart?

Wife of Uriah. There is also another key person in this list. She is not named. The first birth in the list is by a woman who is not named in the Greek version of the Bible. Most of our English Bibles have added the name "Bathsheba." But the Greek version only says, "wife of Uriah." Why was she not named? Why was she even included? Bathsheba was the Jewish woman whom King David seduced and it was she who gave birth to Solomon. Her husband's murder was arranged by King David. What a wicked set of events.

So why were all four women included? Why were three Gentiles and one Jewess included? All of the other mothers could have been listed too! Why only these four? I believe the answer is found in Mary. They were included because the Holy Spirit wants us to know that unusual births had occurred before. The virgin birth through an innocent young girl was also very unusual. So there is a message for us. Jesus' birth was not the only unique one in all of scripture. But He was the only one born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14).

There is also another message here for us. God does not wait until we are perfect to use us. God uses broken vessels all the time. In fact, He rejects proud vessels.

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (NASB) James 4:10

After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. (NASB) Matt. 1:12-15