Matthew Chapter 1

First I want to apologize if I wasn't being very clear. Each person will pick one verse everday from the chapter we read that day. For example, today we are reading Matthew Ch. 1, therefore, everyone will pick one verse from Matthew Ch. 1. Tomorrow, everyone will pick one verse from Matthew Ch. 2, and so on. You are more than welcome to write something everyday of course :). However, on YOUR day, you will pick one verse PLUS write a reflection about the verse. So today is my day, I will pick one verse PLUS write something about the verse. All the rest of you can just pick one verse from Matthew Ch. 1. Alles klar? ^_^



There are actually several verses I would like to share from Ch. 1, since they gave me similar reflections.

"3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife..."

In the geneology of Jesus Christ we see 4 women that were especially mentioned. The parent mentioned is usually just the father, however, these 4 women were the only mothers mentioned. After seeing the women's names and recalling the stories about them, we see something quite odd. These women came from very strange circumstances which we would not consider as good. Tamar had a relationship with her father-in-law, something we would consider very strange and perhaps a sinful way and from that became part of Jesus' geneology (Genesis 38). Rahab as we read this past weekend was a prostitute, someone who we again would consider sinful (Joshua 2). Ruth is a Gentile, a non-chosen race of God at that time (Ruth 1). Uriah's wife is Bathsheba, a woman who King David broke 3 of the 10 Commandments to get. King David coveted Uriah's wife, then committed adultery with her, then sent Uriah to the front line to be killed (2 Samuel 11).

As you can see, all of these women had very complicated backgrounds that we would consider to be bad today. Yet, their imperfect lives were included in the geneology of Jesus, a perfect man. At first it seemed strange and puzzling, however, this tells us that Jesus came to save sinners today just like God had given these 4 imperfect women a chance in his blessings in their time. Therefore, we have a chance at Salvation, because we are just like these 4 women, coming from perhaps not so holy places. Despited their imperfections, God had mercy on these 4 women and made them a part of the plan that became Jesus Christ for Salvation. Today, we also have the mercy of God to be saved and to become part of the plan of God for Salvation. Amen.