Ruth 1:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consider the parallels found in the story of Ruth. She would not have entered into the union she did without first turning away from her father, rejecting her household, her family, her homeland, and her kin. Similarly, the Church, having renounced her earthly customs, became pleasing to her Bridegroom, Christ. The prophet captures this sentiment, saying to the Church: "Forget thy people and thy father's house. And the King shall desire thy beauty" (Psalm 44:11, 12). Like Ruth, who became the matriarch of kings and the Church because David is her descendant, the Church finds her identity in this divine call.

Ruth, the foreigner, remained steadfast alongside Naomi, demonstrating the profound value of companionship. From her lineage, the Messiah was brought forth.

Ruth entered the house of worship and became an Israelite, earning her place among the Lord’s most esteemed servants. Her selection was based on the heritage of her spirit, not on her physical lineage. We ought to celebrate her, for just as her actions warranted her being chosen, we too should strive to be regarded as the cherished elect of the Lord’s Church. In doing so, we can reflect her example and respond to those who, like Paul or another bishop, urge us to honor God by declaring, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

It is evident to all that Ruth, in her devotion, chose to leave her parents in order to accompany her mother-in-law. While the account of Ruth could have been crafted for the glory of the Lord, its significance stands on its own and serves as a valuable lesson for those who appreciate such narratives. This story illustrates the purity and affection that daughters-in-law can have for their mothers-in-law, with Ruth exemplifying this through her sincere devotion and in honoring the memory of her husband, opting to care for an elderly and frail woman over remaining with her own family.

Let us consider Ruth, as she represents the Church. She is a Gentile who left her homeland and everything associated with it to join the Israelites. When her mother-in-law tried to dissuade her from accompanying her, Ruth firmly replied, "But where thou goest, there I will go also; and where thou lodgest, there I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God; and where thou shalt die, there I shall die and be buried." This declaration unequivocally symbolizes the Church. Just as Ruth turned her back on her past to follow God, the Church is called from among the Gentiles, abandoning idolatry and renouncing worldly pursuits. She professes faith in the Lord God, whom the saints worship.

Ruth, a Moabite woman, is honored in the holy Scriptures. After her mother-in-law Naomi, a Judean and the wife of Elimelech, became a widow following the deaths of her husband and both sons in Moab, she decided to return to her native Bethlehem. Naomi blessed her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, and encouraged them to remain in their homeland with their families. While Orpah chose to stay, Ruth was resolute in her commitment to Naomi, who was a destitute widow. Ruth expressed her devotion to Naomi, saying, “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from you; where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.

The narrative of Ruth is captured in a distinct book of Holy Scripture, which serves not only to reveal the lineage of David (Ruth 4:17) and, by extension, of Jesus Christ, but also to illustrate God's extraordinary providence toward the righteous. It highlights the positive outcomes associated with steadfast devotion to true faith, the solace that godliness provides in times of adversity, and the beneficial impact of humility and good reputation. The discernment of Naomi, Ruth's loyalty to her, and Ruth's gentleness and willingness to sacrifice, along with Boaz's nobility, are all striking, moving, and educational examples.

These are wonderful words, whether spoken by a son to his father, by a daughter to her mother, or by a wife to her husband; yet they are three times as wonderful when a daughter-in-law speaks them to her mother-in-law. They were spoken by the blessed Ruth to Naomi, her grieving mother-in-law.

Boaz took Ruth as his wife due to the nobility of her faith, as she willingly turned away from her own people and homeland to embrace Israel. She showed steadfast loyalty to her mother-in-law, who was also a widow, prioritizing her bond with Naomi over her own kin. Ruth's choice conveyed her rejection of the gods of her native land, opting instead for the living God. She expressed to her mother-in-law, "Do not urge me to leave you."

The experience of the Hebrews in Egypt, living amidst a large population, their magnificent departure from Egypt, their extraordinary passage through the Red Sea, their victorious entry into the promised land, the destruction or subjugation of its corrupt residents, and their continual successes against the Gentile nations during the era of the judges, alongside their subjugation by these nations, undoubtedly left a mark on the Gentiles. This influence can be illustrated through various instances (Nav. 2:9-11; Nav. 5:1).