Come Join The Family

"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the Son of David, the son of Abraham."
Matthew 1:1

The gospel of Matthew was written specifically for a Jewish audience, and has as its core theme, Jesus the King. 
The gospel begins with the genealogy of Jesus to show not only His humanity but also that He is from the kingly line of David.

Matthew includes women in the genealogy, which would not be typical especially when listing a royal lineage.  If the Holy Spirit's intent in the genealogy was to impress religious Jews these women would not have been included.  I believe the women being listed sends a wonderful message and an invitation that all can be part of The Kings family tree.

Tamar is in the family line of our Messiah and she is best known by bearing twins from her father in-law Judah.  Tamar was a prostitute from Jericho, and Ruth was from the despised people of Moab.  Bathsheba is mentioned and of course she is most known for her affair with David. Mary the mother of Jesus is in the genealogy and in those days she would not have been known at all, for she was a nobody from a nowhere town called Nazareth.

The blessed message of Christmas is that God truly has come as man, to save man. That God would have these women listed in the family line of His Son, gives such strong encouragement that we too can be part of His family.  The invitation has been extended, the door is wide open, come join the family!