And have taken to wife Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahalon, to raise up the name of the deceased in his inheritance lest his name be cut off, from among his family and his brethren and his people. You, I say, are witnesses of this thing.
וְגַ֣ם אֶת־ר֣וּת הַמֹּאֲבִיָּה֩ אֵ֨שֶׁת מַחְל֜וֹן קָנִ֧יתִי לִ֣י לְאִשָּׁ֗ה לְהָקִ֤ים שֵׁם־הַמֵּת֙ עַל־נַ֣חֲלָת֔וֹ וְלֹא־יִכָּרֵ֧ת שֵׁם־הַמֵּ֛ת מֵעִ֥ם אֶחָ֖יו וּמִשַּׁ֣עַר מְקוֹמ֑וֹ עֵדִ֥ים אַתֶּ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Consider the parallels found in the story of Ruth. Though she was an outsider and in great need, Boaz looked upon her with compassion rather than contempt for her humble beginnings. Similarly, Christ embraced the Church, which was alien and destitute, and granted it access to immense blessings.
How could Ruth, a woman from a foreign land, enter into marriage with a Jew? Why does the evangelist find it significant to include this union, which the law explicitly prohibits (cf. Deuteronomy 7:3), in the lineage of Christ? Does the Lord not connect His ancestry to a legitimate union? This notion may seem disgraceful unless we recall the apostolic teaching that the law is intended for the unrighteous, not for those who are just.
Despite being a foreigner and a Moabitess, and despite the prohibition in the law of Moses against such unions (see Exodus 34:16), which expressly barred Moabites from the assembly— for it is written, "The Moabites shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord until the third and fourth generation" (Deuteronomy 23:4)—Ruth was permitted to join the congregation. Her holiness and moral integrity (compare Eph. 5:27) elevated her beyond the constraints of the law. As the law was established for the wicked and the sinful, it stands to reason that Ruth, who transcended the legal boundaries and became part of the assembly, was embraced as an Israelite and honored among those who belong to the Lord's genealogy. Chosen through spiritual, rather than mere physical lineage, she serves as a profound example for us, illustrating the calling of all who come from the nations to enter the Lord's Church. Let us follow her example! Just as she, through her virtuous conduct, earned the right to be counted among the chosen, we should also strive to attain the right to be part of the Lord's Church through our own good deeds.
The devotion and precision of the statements are noteworthy. He declares that he will not violate the commandments by marrying a Moabite woman; instead, he will uphold the divine law, striving to ensure that the remembrance of the departed is maintained and does not vanish.
In accordance with ancient tradition, the bridegroom was required to remove his shoes when he intended to separate from his bride, signifying the act of divorce. Consequently, he would refrain from entering the church while wearing shoes, which were rightfully reserved for Christ, the true bridegroom. The blessing from the ten elders indicated that all nations among the Gentiles received salvation and were blessed through the name of Christ. The Greek term for jot represents the number ten and is also the first letter of the name Lord Jesus, affirming that all nations find salvation and blessing in Him. Therefore, let there be no uncertainty regarding these statements, as it is evident they were universally acknowledged, and their forebears served as their examples.
All things found fulfillment at the arrival of the Lord; every prophecy was powerfully realized by the proclamation of truth and through the various representations in the Holy Scriptures, which He, who made the promise, has brought to fruition through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our King, Redeemer, and Saviour. To Him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS