Gospel of Matthew Chapter 1 Vs. 3

 The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1:3 “And Judas begat Pharez and Zerah of Tamar; and Pharez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram;”

Judas begat Phares... See 1Ch. 2:4-12; Ruth 4:13-22 for the names of Phares to Jesse (Mat. 1:3-5). Judas, This is the Greek form of Judah, Jacob’s son, through whom it was promised that the leadership of the twelve tribes would come (Gen. 49:3-12).

Zerah of Thamar... Four women in this genealogy. Rahab and Ruth were Gentiles. Tamar and Bathsheba were Jews. Thus Christ descended from both Jews and Gentiles. Rahab was a harlot (Jas. 2:25). Both Tamar and Bathsheba committed adultery (Gen. 38:1-30; 2Sam. 11:1-5). Ruth was a pure woman (Ruth 3:11).

begat... Greek: gennao. When used of the father it means to beget or engender. When used of the mother it means to bring forth. Translated be born (Mat. 1:16); conceive (Mat. 1:20); gender (Gal. 4:24); and bear (Luke 1:13).

Thamar: It is unusual for women to be named in genealogies. Matthew names 5:

1. Thamar or Tamar was a Canaanite woman who posed as a prostitute to seduce Judah (Genesis 38:13-30).

2. “Rahab” (verse 5), was a Gentile and prostitute (Joshua 2:1).

3. “Ruth” (verse 5), was a Moabite woman (Ruth 1:3), and a worshipper of idols.

4. “Bathsheba” wife of Uriah (verse 6), committed adultery with David (2 Sam chapter 11).

5. “Mary” (verse 16), bore the stigma of pregnancy outside of wedlock. Each of these women is an object lesson about the workings of divine grace.

Matthew may have included these women in order to emphasize that God’s choices in dealing with people are all of His grace. Perhaps also he included these women in order to put Jewish pride in its place.