Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

-

Now

-In the Western World genealogies/family tree are important to us, as a means of locating family and staying in contact but for the most part we are not near as religious about studying “who are people are than those in near ancient cultures”

-But in some small sense he have all had this happen to us.... Someone says “who are your people” and then you say I am a Johnson.

Who is your Daddy?? His name is Michael.

And then they say “Boy you look just like your Daddy.

Talk like him, smile like, and silly just like him.....

-In some ways even in the Western World we often determine someone’s future based on “who there people are” The Jews were just like this times 4.......

Then

-Since Judaism is not only a religious community but an ethnic group that claims descent from common ancestry, there has been significant interest in tracing Jewish descent.

To this day there are Jews who trace their descent from the ancient tribe of priests (kohanim) and levites (leviim) of the Jewish Bible and who still receive special recognition in areas such as the Jewish synagogue service.[2]

-Some Jewish families have preserved traditions relating to their tribal affiliation, based on partial genealogical records passed down generation after generation.

In Yemen, for example, some Jews trace their lineage to Judah, others to Benjamin, while yet others to Levi and Reuben.

Of particular interest is one distinguished Jewish family of Yemen who traced their lineage to Bonai, one of the sons of Peretz, the son of Judah.[4]

-So much of Religious life of the Jews was built upon “who your people were” Priestly Tribes, King Tribe and inheritance rights in the Future Kingdom were determined by birth rites.

-Matthew knew that, and that is why he begins his book with a genealogy.

He is essentially saying it is not important “who’s family you are born in, but have you been born again”

-Look at (v.1) he comes right out of the gate.

He does not guise his Thesis, nor hide his argument.

“ 1The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

-Matthew is actually preaching the Gospel of our Lord inside the genealogy

1The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

-You will notice 5 breaks in the genealogy

-(v.3)

By Tamar- Immoral Deceiver( a shullamite-gentile)

-(v.5) by Rahab a Prostitute(Canaanite)

-(v.5) by Ruth a destitute Moabitess(gentile)

-(v.6) by Bathsheba an adulterer(Gileonite married to a Hittite)

-(v.16) of Mary a perceived fornicator( a title for which she never could run from)

-At least a couple of things consistent with all these woman-Either they were Gentile, bore children under suspicious condition, or they were woman at the bottom of social ladder based on their occupations.

-Matthew was making the overriding point that God uses trash and makes it treasure.

-Today we are going to study one of these women

Always-The Virgin Birth assures you a release from your present past and your distant past.

I. Rahab’s Profession

Joshua 2:1-3

Joshua 2:

-Context of Jewish Conquest

-(v.1)

Joshua sent out two men to spy out the land.

Most likely after some days of hiding in the woods and spying the activity of Jericho vis a vis: Soldier Movement, Supply Movement into the city, and what time the gates closed every evening, They probably noticed this home that had a lot of men coming and going out of the home.

-(v.1) “So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.”

This was a very smart move on behalf of the spies in that her house was know for a high amount of male visitors on a nightly basis.

You will notice the last phrase “and lodged there” So the plan was to lay low in this Prostitute home and study the battlefield from within the city walls.

-There were actually to sets of walls in Jericho.

The outer wall and the inner wall.

Wood beams would be between the two walls all the way up to the tops of the walls.

Notice (v.15) Rahab home was built right into the wall with her roof being level with the top of the city walls.

From her window she could see outside of the wall.

Her house was probably on the outer walls due to her profession.

-(v.1) “into the house of a Harlot, whose name was Rahab” There is some debate about this term “Harlot” the Hebrew word underneath our english translation can sometimes refer to an inn keeper, and some scholar’s prefer that interpretation because they cannot stomach the ramifications of this women being in the genealogy of Jesus......There are a couple of lines of evidence that refute this claim as Rahab just being a hotel manager:

OT usage- “18You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God’

18“You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the Lord your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your God

NT Usage-Hebrews 11:31 “31By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.... “25In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

-The NT writers of Hebrews(Unknown) and James(the brother of Jesus) both used the phrase “Rahab the prostitute” The greek word- “porna” from which we get our word “porno”

25In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?

31By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

-One has to wonder why if she was just an “innkeeper” would these writers continue to attach her career choice to her name.

What I see is that the writers of Joshua, Matthew, Hebrews & James does not want you to forget her occupation.

They are trying to communicate something about her and God by continuing to use her occupation by her name.....When you know that overriding purpose of the God that will help you ascertain why the writers would do this: The primary purpose of the Bible is to bring Glory to God via written stories, poems, proverbs, and doctrines.

He is the central character of the Biblical Narrative.

Because every book is inspired to the HS he is point all glory back to God, so the writer of scripture felt it necessary to continual point out who this woman was, and what she was able to do under the power of God.....Now look back at the scriptures in Hebrews & James: Both the writers of Hebrews & James were espousing the example the Rahab set as a woman of great faith despite her past history.

This is testimony to the power and glory of God, that he would use such an unlikely person.

-It is safe to conclude based on this evidence that “Rahab is a lady of the evening”

-(v.1)

One must also grapple with “why her house” admittedly there was a tactical reason in that her house was known for a lot of male activity.

The spies probably felt they could just hide out without being discovered, but from a spiritual point of view it was absolutely God’s will for them to stay in the “house of harlot” you can start to see the foreshadowing her of a future reality

-(v.2-3)

The King of Jericho got word from his spies, that some suspicious men were lodged in the house of Rahab.

The King gets word over to Rahab give those men up or there is going to be some problems.

-(v.3) “for they have come to search out all the land” The King of Jericho probably had spies all through the land monitoring the movement of the Jewish people.

He probably even knew when they left the wilderness.

He was on edge with fear.

-Rahab had a decision to make:

a. Do I give up the men so that I can maintain my lucrative brothel?

b.

Do I take the chance of being a traitor, death to conceal these spies?

Application-Contemporary Rephrase of the same question to us

a.

Should I reject God’s call so that I can maintain my lifestyle, career, relationships, and future?

b.

Should I embrace God’s which could lead to lose of job, career, family, friends, and quite possible my own life.

Transition Statement: Rahab must have grappled with this decision, but her action in the next verses seemed like she made up her mind

II.

Rahab’s Profession of Faith

II.

Rahab’s Verbal Profession

Joshua 2:

Joshua 2:4-

-(v.4) Rahab made up her mind.

She made a decision take her life into her own hands and defy “the king of Jericho” she made a decision to hide the spies, And then she lied to the Spies.

She admitted that the men came to her, but she didn’t know where they came from

-(v.5-7)

The Ruse---The men left before the gate closed and you better go chase them down

-(v.6) Rahab hide them under the Flax on the roof.

She put them under the Flax because she knew the kings’ men would search the premises even the roof of her house.

-(v.8-11)

Rahab Profession:

a. Yahweh is Sovereign- “I know that the Lord has given you the land

b.

Yahweh is Omnipotent- “that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you”