Sermon: Rahab the Prostitute in Jesus’ Family Tree (Practical Christmas#3)
Bible Passage: Matthew 1:2-6; 16
I. Joshua 2:1-13
Verse 2:1: Joshua, son of Nun, sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them: “Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho.” They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there
1. Rahab was a prostitute by profession—she sold her body for money
2. A trade of immorality and thereby she remained one of the worst kind of sinners
3. She was a low-living citizen of Jericho, living in the fringes
4. Consequently, she probably was not easily accepted in the mainstream society
5. Rahab carries with her the stigma “prostitute” even after she was integrated into the family of God—the stigma was not a negative one, but a positive one
II. Her knowledge of the truth that Yahweh is the God of the universe made her surrender completely to Him which is demonstrated in her action
1. Rahab decided between the king of Jericho and Jehovah (the King of Heaven)—her choice determined her future (vv. 2-3)
2. Rahab shields the spies from the king of Jericho and conceals them in her attic (Verses 4-5)
3. Because of her faith in Jehovah, she was willing to put her life, family, and future in line (verse 6)
4. She did not stand in the ways of Jehovah; instead, she joined the mission of Jehovah
5. According to Heb 11:31 “By faith … welcomed the spies in peace” (faith in action)
6. Rahab believed Jehovah even before the invasion of the city took place (verse 10)
7. Rahab boldly confesses her faith (verse 11)
8. She acknowledges that Yahweh is the Only Supreme God and the future of Canaan was in His hands (verse 12-13)
III. Result
1. Rahab’s action not only saved her, but also saved her extended family (6:17, 23)
2. She became the great grandmother of King David (Matt 1:5)—Jesus’ family tree (Boaz’s mother)
3. She takes a place in the list of heroes of faith (Heb 11:31)
4. For the writer of the book of James, she is a model of faith, next to Abraham (James 2:25)
IV. Lessons from Rahab
1. God’s election of people and integration of them into His family is not based on one’s caste, profession, color, and status
2. She becomes a prototype of people who embrace the Living God from sinful faith—an example for divine grace flowing through an unworthy person (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba)
3. Rahab’s story demonstrates that one’s ugly past need not prevent having a beautiful present (Joshua 6:25) and glorious future
4. Christianity is not a story of righteous, religious people, but it is God’s story of searching for the sinners and changing them to righteous ones
5. Jesus is called “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt 11:18)
6. What is the good news this Christmas?
a. Messed up!
b. Ugly past!
c. Abused and sidelines due to a stigma
d. God wants you to have His mission accomplished
e. A prostitute in Jesus’ family tree!
Take Away:
1. Confess your faith publicly and demonstrate it in your action
2. Do not judge a person based on his/her life before, but look at the person now in Christ (do not be surprised by what they have now been made in Christ)
3. Operate on your new identity