Bible Studies

Leader’s Guide – The Five Women in the Genealogy of Jesus

August 29, 2019February 9, 2021By
Leader’s Guide – The Five Women in the Genealogy of Jesus

Who Would Have Thought?

A Study of the Women in the Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew 1:1–17

Leader’s Guide

The Story of Tamar–Questions from Genesis 38.
  1. If one brother dies without leaving a son, his widow must not marry outside the family.  Her husband’s brother shall marry her and fulfill the duty of the brother–in–law. Their first son shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.
  2. Because Er and Onan were wicked in the sight of the Lord, He put them to death. (38:7,10)
  3. He sent Tamar home to her father with no intention of letting her marry his third son, Shelah, when he grew up. 38:11.
  4. Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and tricked Judah into sleeping with her and impregnating her. 38:13–17.
  5. Judah gave Tamar his seal, cord and his staff, very personal items. 38:18
  6. When she was accused of harlotry and being pregnant outside of Judah’s family, she produced the seal, cord, and Judah’s staff, implicating Judah. 38:25-26.
  7. This is an opinion question but perhaps the significance was that it provided proof that she slept with Judah.
  8. Opinion question.
  9. She appears in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus.
  10. Opinion question.
  11. Opinion question.
The Story of Rahab—Questions from Joshua 2, Joshua 6:17, 20-25.
  1. She sent the king’s men in the wrong direction and she hid the spies under stalks of flax on her rooftop until it was safe for them to leave. (2:4-7)
  2. After hearing all that God had done for Israel, she was fearful of them, but at the same time she declared that “the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” (2:8–11). The second part of the question is an opinion question.
  3. James 2:25 tells us that Rahab was considered righteous for her act of giving the spies lodging and protecting them from discovery.
  4. Opinion question.
  5. Opinion question.
  6. Opinion question.
  7. Opinion question.
  8. Opinion question.
The Story of Ruth—Questions from Ruth 1-4.
  1. Deuteronomy 23:3 indicates that no Moabite or any descendant may enter the assembly of the Lord, even to the tenth generation. They could have no fellowship with God.
  2. Jesus descended from Ruth making Ruth present in the genealogy of Jesus and a member of God’s family.
  3. There are many answers and this is more of an opinion question.
  4. There are many answers to this one as well. (1:16–18, 2:7, 10–13, 3:5,10)
  5. Opinion question.
  6. Briefly stated, Naomi was a widow, who was selling her husband’s land to the closest kinsman–redeemer in her family. Along with this deal would also come Ruth as wife to the kinsman–redeemer so that any heir would help maintain the name of the dead (Elimelech) with his property. The closest kinsman–redeemer rejected this offer since he already had a family and heirs. This opened the door for Boaz who was next in line. The elders and all the people were witnesses then that Boaz bought all of Naomi’s land and acquired Ruth as his wife. (4:1–11)
  7. Ruth became Boaz’s wife and part of the family and lineage of Jesus. She also acquired status in Israel and was respected and admired by the people (vs. 11). Boaz received a woman of great character, a mother–in–law who needed a caretaker, new lands, a new son and he became famous. (4:9–15)
  8. Opinion question.
The Story of Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife)—Questions from 2 Samuel 11.
  1. Opinion question.
  2. She was disgraced within herself and before others and she mourned the death of her husband, Uriah.
  3. Uriah was a man in a war. Though he and his fellow warriors were home, Uriah would not go to Bathsheba and the comforts of home because no one else could go to their homes. Even Joab, his leader, could not go home but stayed in tents in the open fields. (11:6–11)
  4. Bathsheba was sensitive and sorrowful that her husband was dead. (11:26) She stood up to the king (David) for what had been promised, the rightful place of her son Solomon as king. (1 Kings 1:15–17) She respected and humbled herself before King David. (1 Kings 1:31) She was respected and given an honored seat by her own son, King Solomon. (1 Kings 2:19)
  5. Mary descended from Nathan, the son of David. (Luke 3:31)
  6. Opinion question.
  7. Opinion question.
  8. Opinion question.
The Story of Mary—Questions from Luke 1:26–38.
  1. Mary as the virgin is mentioned in Isaiah 7:14.
  2. This is an opinion question, but Mary was prepared her whole life by growing up knowing and hearing all the prophetic messages from the Old Testament within her Jewish community.
  3. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” (1:38)
  4. Opinion question.
  5. Because Joseph was a righteous man, he did not want to expose Mary to public disgrace so he planned to divorce her quietly. After the angel visited him, he reversed his decision and took Mary as his wife. He also committed to naming his son Jesus and raising him. (Matthew 1:19–21)
  6. Opinion question.
  7. See Luke 1:46–50.
  8. Opinion question.
  9. Opinion question.

List of Resources

Commentators

Bob Davis

David Guzik

P.C. Headley

Matthew Henry

Chuck Smith

Bishop John Shelby Spong

 

Paul White Ministries—Five Women of Grace

Alistair Begg—Truth For Life

Richard Bauckham—Gospel Women – Studies of the Named Women in the Gospels

Liz Curtis Higgs—Bad Girls of The Bible

 

Pastor Fred of Grace Life

Patriarchy Website—“Bathsheba, a Truthful Account” by ISLEO, November, 2000