Women in the Gospels - The 4 named women in Mathew's Genealogy of Jesus

In St. Matthew's Gospel vs that of St. Luke, the two lists from King David to Joseph, have only have two names in common. 

1. St. Matthew's list reflects Jesus' legal claim as an heir of David through His adopted father St. Joseph, while
2. St. Luke's genealogy records Jesus's biological claim through Mary.

Question: How many women are named in St. Matthew's list and what did they have in common?

Answer:

1. Tamar, posed as a prostitute and slept with her father-in-law to become pregnant [Gen 19:36-37; 38:1-30; ]
2. Rahab, was a Canaanite prostitute [Josh 2:1-21; 6:22-25;]
3. Ruth, was a Moabitess [Ruth 1:1-4; 4:13, 17;]
4. Uriah's wife i.e. Bethsheba, is not even named, and was an adulterous wife. [2 Sam 11:2-5, 26-27; 12:9-14, 24-25; ]
5. Mary of Nazareth [Mt 1:18.]

 [Tamar (woman #1), Rahab wife of Salmon, mother of Boaz (woman #2), Ruth wife of Boaz, mother of Obed (woman #3)]

Four of the women were in some way involved in a scandalous past. Perhaps naming these women, all connected to scandal, is a preemptive strike against the scandalous lies that were circulating about Mary of Nazareth.  If these woman could become the mothers of the leaders of the people of Israel (like Bathsheba's son King Solomon) with important roles to play in God's plan, why can Mary's son not  be destined by God to redeem His people? What disqualifies her?

The real surprise is the list of the descendants of David from King Jechoniah/Jehoiachin to Joseph, a genealogical list that can be found no where else in Scripture. 

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Lord I need your Peace

A storm that rocked my boat one day

T'was a storm that sent me out to pray.

Pray did I "Lord I need your Peace.

I seek for it, but find no relief !

I sought it High, I sought it Low.

Where is your peace? Where did it go?

Did you not promise, a wholesome life,

but in my life all i find is constant strife !"

 

Amidst the storm blew a gentle breeze

with a voice so tender, my mind it did seize

"Peace I did promise, not without the storm

but a peace to soar above, against all norms.

The waves will rise high and again fall low

But My peace stays with you wherever you go.

Loose it not, to the troubles you face,

Share it with all, Be ye faithful to my grace."

Testimony:

I had written the above poem way back in November 27, 2012. It was when I was going through immense suffering that I heard Jesus speak to me most clearly. He thought me that His Peace is not a temporal peace, a happy fleeting feeling, but is and enduring peace. His peace stays with us despite the circumastances we may find our selves in. 

All of us find ourselves in the midst of a world wide storm, the Coronavirus Storm, COVID-19. This storm has taken over the world, affected our daily lives, halted our Countries economies, and made us prisoners in our own home! It has closed our schools, public places and places of worship. 

Even though in some places like Glasgow, the lockdown has eased, and we have started to pick up the shattered pieces of our lives, we have to get used to the new-normal. Many have lost their jobs, some are starving, some are facing mental health issues like depression, while many are resorting to sucide as the way out. 

Nothing is the same as before, the way we work, the way we live, the way our children learn, everything has changed. Even the way we worship is now different, the Chruches can only hold a maximum of 50 people, there is no signing, so no praise and worship! 

Ironically, when there is a storm raging and you can't escape it, the best place to be is in the Eye of the Storm. So long as you have Jesus in your boat you will not be ship-wrecked, but make it safely to the shore.

So let us take our eyes of the storm and cast them on Jesus. He is with us, perhaps asleep in our boat, but we can wake him up. Jesus is not indifferent to out needs, Psalm 121:4: Behold, the Protector of Israel will not slumber or sleep. He will answer us when we call on him in earnest.

Are you tried of chasing pretty rainbows? Are you tired of spinning round and round?

Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life, and at the feet of Jesus lay them down

Give them all, give them all, Give them all to Jesus

Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys

Just give them all to Jesus and he will turn your sorrow into joy

He never said you'd only see sunshine, He never said there'd be no rain.  He only promised us a heart full of singing Of the very thing that once brought pain.

No matter what our past looks like, when Jesus meets us, He accepts us just as we are. No matter how broken or shatterd our lives are Jesus the potter can re-fashion us, into something beautiful. So like Mary, who went through numerous trials in her earthly life, let us sing in the midst of the storms of life.

 My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever. Luke 1:46-55