The story of Ruth is one of the most beautiful and inspiring stories in the Bible. Ruth was a Moabite woman who married an Israelite man and followed him to his homeland. After her husband and his father died, Ruth chose to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi and worship the God of Israel. Ruth’s loyalty, faith, and courage led her to a new life and a new love with Boaz, a wealthy relative of Naomi. But did you know that Ruth was also related to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world? In this article, we will explore how Ruth was connected to Jesus and what that means for us today.
Ruth’s Genealogy
Ruth is one of only five women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus found in the Gospel of Matthew, alongside Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary1. Matthew traces Jesus’ ancestry from Abraham to David, then from David to the Babylonian exile, and finally from the exile to Joseph, the husband of Mary. Ruth appears in the second section, as the great-grandmother of King David:
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. (Matthew 1:5-6)
Ruth’s son Obed was the grandfather of David, who was chosen by God to be the king of Israel and the ancestor of the Messiah. David’s line continued through Solomon, Rehoboam, Hezekiah, Josiah, and other kings until the time of the exile. After the exile, some of David’s descendants returned to Judah and eventually gave birth to Joseph, who was legally Jesus’ father. Thus, Ruth was part of the royal lineage that led to Jesus.
Ruth’s Significance
Why did Matthew include Ruth in his genealogy of Jesus? What was so special about her? There are several possible reasons why Ruth was significant for Matthew and his readers:
- Ruth was a Gentile, a non-Jewish person who converted to Judaism and became part of God’s people. She demonstrated that God’s grace and salvation were not limited to Israel, but extended to all nations. Matthew’s gospel emphasizes that Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets for both Jews and Gentiles (Matthew 5:17; 28:19). By mentioning Ruth, Matthew showed that Jesus was the Savior of the world, not just of Israel.
- Ruth was a woman of faith, loyalty, and courage. She left her homeland, her family, and her gods to follow Naomi and worship Yahweh, the God of Israel. She trusted God’s providence and followed Naomi’s instructions to seek Boaz’s protection and marriage. She risked her reputation and safety to approach Boaz at night and ask him to redeem her and Naomi. She showed kindness and generosity to Naomi and Boaz by sharing her food and her love. She exemplified the qualities that Jesus praised in his followers: faith, love, humility, obedience, and compassion.
- Ruth was a woman of hope. She endured hardship, loss, and grief without losing hope in God’s promises. She believed that God had a plan for her life and that he would provide for her needs. She hoped for a redeemer who would rescue her from poverty and loneliness. She hoped for a son who would carry on her husband’s name and inheritance. She hoped for a future that would be better than her past. She foreshadowed the hope that Jesus brought to humanity: hope for forgiveness, hope for restoration, hope for eternal life.
Ruth’s Legacy
Ruth’s story is not only a historical account of how she became related to Jesus; it is also a spiritual lesson for how we can become related to Jesus. Ruth teaches us that:
- We can become part of God’s family by faith. Ruth was not born into Israel; she chose to join Israel by believing in God and obeying his commands. Similarly, we are not born into God’s family; we become part of it by believing in Jesus and following his teachings (John 1:12-13; Galatians 3:26-29). We are adopted as God’s children through Christ (Ephesians 1:5).
- We can experience God’s grace and love through Christ. Ruth experienced God’s grace and love through Boaz, who redeemed her from her destitute situation and married her as his wife. Boaz was a type or foreshadowing of Christ, who redeemed us from our sin and death by dying on the cross and rising again. Christ is our bridegroom who loves us as his bride (Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-9).
- We can share in God’s purpose and plan through Christ. Ruth shared in God’s purpose and plan by becoming part of the lineage that led to Jesus, the Messiah. She played a role in God’s salvation history by giving birth to Obed, the ancestor of David and Jesus. We also share in God’s purpose and plan by becoming part of the body of Christ, the church. We play a role in God’s mission by spreading the gospel and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-16).
Is Ruth related to Jesus? The answer is yes, both biologically and spiritually. Ruth was an amazing woman who showed us how to live by faith, love, and hope. She was a blessing to her family and to the world. She was a link in the chain that connected Jesus to us. And she invites us to join her in following Jesus, our Savior and Lord.