The 4 Noted Ladies in
Jesus’ Lineage
MATTHEW 1: 1-16 AND LUKE 4: 23-38
Gen 38 Judah & Tamar
Their story: Judah, father
of Er, Onan, and Shelah.
Tamar marries Er - the Lord
puts him to death and
also Onan...Shelah is still a
child...Judah tells her to
wait...many years pass
and Judah refuses to give
Shelah to Tamar...
Levirate Marriage Law:
If a husband dies without a son to carry his name and
inheritance, the husband’s brother is required to have a
son with his sister-in-law to produce a namesake for the
brother who died.
This happened twice to Tamar! Er’s brother (Onan) was
extremely wicked (as Er was) and God put both of them
to death...
Tamar is a widow without a son/child
Years past and Shelah is grown but Judah refuses to give
him to Tamar. Tamar has lived as a widow for several
years...
When Judah goes to another town to sheer sheep,
Tamar (dressed as a prostitute) meets him. His wife had
recently died, he asks to lay with the prostitute (not
knowing she is Tamar, his daughter-in-law). Judah gives
Tamar his belt and shield as “payment”.
Tamar is found pregnant and Judah orders her death...
Tamar, 3 months pregnant, confesses who the father of
this child is by showing Judah his belt and shield.
V26 Judah immediately stops the penalty of death and
declares, “she is more righteous than I...” More ethically
right than Judah –fulfilling the Levirate Law at the cost of
her life and reputation...
Tamar gave birth to twin boys: Zerah and Perez
King David is a direct descendant of Perez, whom Jesus is
a direct descendant.
Joshua 2 & 6 –Rahab the
prostitute in Jericho
Joshua sends 2 spies to Jericho
and they go to the prostitute’s
house ... Rahab responds by
saying, “I know that the Lord has
given you this land and that
great fear of you has fallen on
us...our hearts are melting with
fear...we have heard of the Red
Sea splitting and you walking on
dry land...our hearts melted
because the Lord, your God is
God!...
Rahab believed in God and had faith that God would
spare/save her and her family
Josh 6: 25, “...Joshua spared/saved Rahab the
prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her,
because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to
Jericho - and she lives among the Israelites to this
day.”
Matt 1: 5 tells us that Rahab is the mother of Boaz...
Boaz married Ruth...they become the great
grandparents of King David...an ancestor of Jesus!
The Book of Ruth –Ruth
Time the Judges: religious
and moral failure ruled
Starts in Bethlehem – “the
house of food.”
The Family:
Elimelek – “My God is King”
Naomi – “sweet, my joy”
Mahlon – “weakling’
Kilion – “frail person”
Famine destroys the region of
Israel so Elimelek takes his family
to Moab
Mahlon marries Ruth...Elimelek,
Kilion, and Mahlon die... Naomi
decides to return to Bethlehem –
the famine is done...
Ruth states, “...your (Naomi’s)
God will be my God...I will return
with you...”
Ruth gleans wheat in Boaz’s fields – not knowing he is a
relative of Naomi...
Kingsman Redeemer:
Boaz is touched by Ruth’s sacrifices and noble character,
he meets with the town elders asking to become the
owner of Elimelek’s property...comes with Ruth as his wife
They are married and give birth to Obed... Obed is
Jesse’s father... Jesse is King David’s father... King David
the promised direct family line of Jesus our Lord and
Savior...
Lineages of Jesus – Matthew’s and
Luke’s:
Matt 1, starts with Abraham goes to
Joseph (the husband of Mary –not
the father of Jesus –v16) Identifies
Jesus’ legal rightful royal claim as
Messiah
Luke 4: 23 –38, starts with Joseph to
Adam. Traces Jesus’ lineage through
Nathan (Solomon’s brother) – Mary is
his descendant...
Joseph is the son-in-law to Heli – Heli is Mary’s father...
Mary’s mother is a Levite and father from Judah’s line
Her cousin, Elizabeth, a Levite, is John the Baptizer’s
mother...Elizabeth is 6 months pregnant when Mary
goes to visit with her. (Luke 1 –2)
Gabriel visits Mary, Luke 1:34, “how...I am still a virgin...”
v38, “I am the Lord’s servant...May it be to me
according to your word...”
We learned...
1) Tamar –do what is righteous no matter the cost, honor
the Lord
2) Rahab –heard about God and believed –even at the
possible cost of her own life
3) Ruth –serve the Lord and others, live the fruit of the
Spirit
4) Mary –Live an obedient life
There were many sacrifices
bringing us to Christmas
and on to Easter –Jesus,
our crucified and risen
Lord...
No longer a ‘babe in a
manger’
Jesus Christ is our soon
coming King
Merry Christmas as we
celebrate His first coming
while looking forward to
Jesus’ Second Coming!
