THE LORD'S UNUSUAL GENEALOGY

The genealogies of Jewish families rarely, if ever, included the names of women.  The Book of Matthew, written to introduce Israel's Messiah to the Jews, not only included women, you might say they were the kind of women who were unlikely to be listed in the lineage of a king (MT. 1:1, 3, 5, 6, 16)!  Matthew Chapter One:

[1] The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 
[3] And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar (Tamar); and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
[5] And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab (Rahab); and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
[6] And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her (Bathsheba) that had been the wife of Urias;
[16] And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Verse 3:  Tamar played the harlot in order to bare an heir in David's lineage (Gen. 38:6-30)!

Verse 5:  Rahab was a Gentile harlot (Josh. 2:3; 6:17-23) who was David's great, great, grandmother.

She is listed in the "Hebrews Hall of Faith," which says, "By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace" (Heb. 11:31); and James wrote of her, "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" (Jam. 2:25).

Verse 5:  Ruth was also a Gentile, a Moabite who was the daughter-in-law of Naomi.  The Book of Ruth is about her faithfulness to Naomi, her conversion, and her marriage to Boaz; she was the great grandmother of David.

Verse 6:  Bathsheba, ("her that had been the wife of Urias"), was an adulteress who could have refused David's advances, but instead, she submitted and their union produced David's heir, Solomon; their adultery resulted in David insuring that Urias was killed in battle (2 Sam. 11:3-27)!

Verse 16:  Mary, who was "espoused to Joseph" (engaged), was "with child" before their marriage.  That would normally result in her being stoned to death.  However, God made sure Mary and her child would be safe.  Matthew wrote: 

"... before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of (in the lineage of) David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.  Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.'  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:  and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name JESUS" (Mt. 1:16-25). 

If God can use these examples, He can surely use you and me!