Matthew - Gentiles in the Genealogy

Today, we start to take a look at Matthew 1:2-17 to discover that there are actually gentiles found in the genealogy of Christ and how the new Jewish converts struggled with this.

It’s interesting that the Jews wanted nothing to do with the Gentiles and yet, five Gentile women are in the line of Jesus. 1. Tamar, who Judah’s daughter-in-law, was a Canaanite (v.3; Gen. 38:13-30). 2. Rahab, the harlot, was an Amorite (v.5; Jos. 2:1, 6:25; Ruth 4:21). 3. Ruth, the wife of Boaz, was a Moabite (v.5; Ruth 4:9-10). 4. Bathsheba, the wife of David, was a Hittite (v.6; 2 Sam. 11:1-5). 5. Naamah, the wife of Solomon, was an Ammonite (v.7; 1 Kings 14:21). (While Naamah is not specifically mentioned by name, she was Rehoboam’s mother.) These are significant in that they show that Gentiles were to be included in New Testament salvation.

  

What is even more interesting is that three of the five women mentioned in this genealogy, Tamar, Rahab and Bathsheba had committed sexual sin!

Woman at the Well

Still, the Jews really struggled with the concept of Gentiles being saved (cf. John 4:1-9).

Peter on the Rooftop

God had to supernaturally reveal it to Peter (cf. Acts 10:1-15, 25-29, 34-36). 

Revealed in the Old Testament

Paul mentioned the salvation of the Gentiles in Romans 15:8-12 where he quoted from four Old Testament passages confirming Gentile salvation (cf. John 10:7-16).

  

Jew and Gentile Bride

So, the Bride is made up of a combination of Jews and Gentiles. Paul told the Romans in Romans  1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.