Matthew 1:5

Letters to the Faithful - Matthew 1:5

Berean Standard Bible
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

King James Bible
And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Greek Text:
Σαλμὼν δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Βοὲς ἐκ τῆς Ῥαχάβ, Βοὲς δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰωβὴδ ἐκ τῆς Ῥούθ, Ἰωβὴδ δὲ ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰεσσαί,

Transliteration:
Salmōn de egennēsen ton Boes ek tēs Rhachab, Boes de egennēsen ton Iōbēd ek tēs Routh, Iōbēd de egennēsen ton Iessai,

------------------------------

Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab
Salmon is a figure mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, linking the Old Testament to the New Testament. Rahab, his wife, is notable for her role in the fall of Jericho, where she hid the Israelite spies (Joshua 2). Her inclusion in the genealogy highlights God's grace and the breaking of cultural barriers, as she was a Canaanite and a former prostitute. This union signifies the integration of Gentiles into the lineage of the Messiah, foreshadowing the universal scope of Jesus' mission. Rahab's faith is commended in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25, emphasizing her transformation and righteousness through faith.

Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth
Boaz is a central figure in the Book of Ruth, known for his integrity and role as a kinsman-redeemer. The concept of the kinsman-redeemer is significant in Jewish law, where a relative could redeem a family member in distress (Leviticus 25:25). Ruth, a Moabite widow, demonstrates loyalty and faith by staying with her mother-in-law Naomi and embracing the God of Israel. Her marriage to Boaz symbolizes redemption and the inclusion of Gentiles in God's covenant community. This union is a type of Christ's redemptive work, as Boaz redeems Ruth, so Christ redeems His church. Ruth's story is a testament to God's providence and the unfolding of His redemptive plan.

Obed the father of Jesse
Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth, continues the lineage leading to King David. His name means "servant" or "worshiper," reflecting the faith and devotion of his parents. Obed's birth is seen as a blessing to Naomi, restoring her joy and hope (Ruth 4:14-17). Jesse, his son, is significant as the father of David, Israel's greatest king, and a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). The lineage from Obed to Jesse underscores the fulfillment of God's promises and the preparation for the Davidic covenant, which ultimately points to the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, fulfilling the prophecies of a Messiah from David's line (Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5).

-------------------------

Beloved in the Lord, grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of our Savior, whose mercy endures forever and whose faithfulness spans all generations. I write to you, not as one who stands above, but as a fellow pilgrim, marveling at the boundless wisdom of God, who weaves the tapestry of redemption through the lives of the humble, the unlikely, and the faithful. Let us consider together the wondrous lineage of our Lord, a lineage not marked by earthly grandeur but by the transformative power of divine grace, which calls forth light from darkness and hope from the forgotten.

In the unfolding of God’s eternal purpose, we see a man named Salmon, joined in covenant with Rahab, a woman once known in the city of Jericho, a stranger to the promises of Israel, yet drawn by faith into the household of God. Her life, once tethered to a city doomed to fall, became a cornerstone in the lineage of the Messiah, for through her union with Salmon came Boaz, a man of righteousness. Consider the marvel of this: a woman from a foreign land, marked by her past, was not cast aside but chosen to bear a name in the story of salvation. What is this but the mercy of God, who looks not upon outward appearance but upon the heart that trembles at His word? Rahab, by her faith, became a mother in Israel, her story a testament that none are beyond the reach of divine love.

And from Boaz, we turn to Ruth, another woman of foreign soil, a Moabitess who clung to the God of Israel through the witness of Naomi. In her loyalty and humility, she found favor in the fields of Boaz, and their union brought forth Obed, the father of Jesse. Ruth, widowed and destitute, might have been overlooked by the world, yet God saw her steadfast love and wove her into His eternal plan. Boaz, a man of integrity, became her redeemer, a shadow of the greater Redeemer who would come, purchasing for Himself a people by His own blood. Through Ruth’s faithfulness and Boaz’s compassion, the line of Jesse was established, a line that would one day bear the King of kings.

Dearly beloved, what do we learn from these lives, so distant in time yet so near to our hearts? The ways of God are not the ways of men. The world exalts the mighty, the proud, the self-sufficient, but God chooses the lowly, the broken, the stranger, and makes them vessels of His glory. Rahab, once bound by her past, was set free by faith. Ruth, a wanderer in a strange land, was grafted into the covenant by love. Boaz, a man of means, did not hoard his blessing but extended it to the needy. And through them all, God was working, unseen yet sovereign, to bring forth the One who would reconcile all things to Himself.

Let this truth stir your souls, as it does mine. You who feel unworthy, know that God delights to choose the weak to shame the strong. You who bear the weight of a past you cannot undo, lift your eyes to the God who writes new names upon those who trust in Him. You who stand in plenty, like Boaz, consider how you might extend your hand to the stranger, the widow, the outcast, for in so doing, you reflect the heart of our Redeemer. And you who walk in foreign lands, far from the promises you long to claim, take courage, for the God of Ruth sees your faithfulness and will not forsake you.

This is the gospel of grace, beloved, that God takes what is broken and makes it whole, that He calls those who are far off and brings them near. The lineage of our Savior is not a chain of unbroken perfection but a mosaic of redeemed lives, each one a story of mercy triumphing over judgment. Rahab’s faith, Ruth’s devotion, Boaz’s kindness—these are not mere tales of old but invitations to us all. They beckon us to trust, to love, to act justly, knowing that our small obedience is caught up in the grand purpose of God, who is ever working to bring His kingdom to pass.

Therefore, let us walk worthy of this calling. Let us cast aside despair, for the God who called Rahab calls us still. Let us forsake selfishness, for the generosity of Boaz is our example. Let us cling to hope, as Ruth did, knowing that our Redeemer lives and His promises are sure. And let us proclaim this good news to all, for the God who wove His Son’s lineage through unlikely lives is weaving still, drawing a people from every nation, tribe, and tongue into His everlasting kingdom.

Now may the God of all grace, who has called us into His marvelous light, strengthen you, comfort you, and guide you by His Spirit, that you may shine as lights in this world, reflecting the glory of Him who came from the line of Jesse to be our Savior. To Him be all honor, power, and dominion, now and forevermore. Amen.

-----------------------------

O Eternal and Merciful God, Creator of heaven and earth, whose wisdom surpasses all understanding and whose love knows no bounds, we come before Your throne of grace with hearts lifted in awe and adoration. You are the God who weaves the tapestry of redemption, who calls the unlikely, the broken, and the faithful into Your everlasting purpose. We stand in wonder at Your mighty hand, which gathers the outcast, exalts the humble, and writes stories of mercy through generations. To You alone be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forever.

We lift our voices in gratitude for Your sovereign grace, revealed in the lives of those who came before us. You saw Rahab, a stranger in a foreign land, bound by her past, yet trembling at Your word. By faith, You brought her into Your covenant, making her a mother in the lineage of Your Son. We praise You, O Lord, for Your compassion that seeks the lost and transforms shame into honor. And for Ruth, a wanderer in grief, You provided a redeemer in Boaz, knitting her devotion into the fabric of Your eternal plan. We magnify Your name for Your faithfulness, which turns mourning into joy and makes the lowly a vessel of Your glory. For Boaz, whose heart reflected Your justice and kindness, we give You thanks, for You delight to use those who extend mercy to the needy, foreshadowing the greater Redeemer who would come.

O God of all grace, we pray for Your people scattered across the earth, from every nation and tongue, that You would stir us by these testimonies of Your love. For those who feel unworthy, weighed down by sins or scars of the past, grant them the faith of Rahab, that they may trust in Your redeeming power and know they are never beyond Your reach. For those who walk as strangers in unfamiliar lands, longing for a home, fill them with the steadfast hope of Ruth, that they may cling to Your promises and find refuge in Your presence. For those blessed with abundance, awaken in them the generosity of Boaz, that they may open their hands to the poor, the widow, and the outcast, reflecting Your heart of compassion.

Lord, we beseech You to unite Your church in this generation, that we may be a people marked by faith, love, and humility. Where division threatens, bind us together in the unity of Your Spirit. Where despair creeps in, kindle in us the assurance that You are working all things for good. Where injustice prevails, embolden us to act with the righteousness that mirrors Your kingdom. May we, like those before us, be woven into Your divine purpose, our small acts of obedience caught up in the unfolding of Your glory.

We pray also for the world You so love, O Father. Draw those who are far from You into the embrace of Your mercy. Let the light of Your gospel shine through Your people, that nations may see Your redeeming love and turn to You. Raise up laborers, Lord, to proclaim the good news that You take what is broken and make it whole, that You call the unlikely and make them heirs of Your kingdom. And for those who suffer, who cry out under the weight of oppression or sorrow, be their comfort and their strength, as You were to Ruth in her affliction.

O God, who sent Your Son through the line of the faithful, we long for the day when He returns to make all things new. Until that hour, keep us steadfast, rooted in Your truth, and ablaze with Your love. May our lives, like those of Rahab, Ruth, and Boaz, be a testament to Your grace, pointing others to the Savior who gave Himself for us all. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit, that we may walk worthy of the calling You have placed upon us, shining as lights in a darkened world.

To You, O Lord, who reigns forever, be all praise, dominion, and power, through Jesus Christ our Savior, in whose precious name we pray. Amen.