THEOSISAmbrose of Milan
According to the customs of the law, if a man passed away, the marital connection with his wife would be transferred to his brother or nearest relative, ensuring that the lineage of the deceased could continue. Ruth, despite being a foreigner, found herself married to an Israelite. After her husband’s death, the responsibility fell to the closest kinsman. Boaz had seen her while she was collecting grain to feed both herself and her mother-in-law and had developed affection for her. However, she could not be wed to him until the sandal of the man, whose wife she would have been by legal right, was taken off.
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This narrative is straightforward, yet its deeper significance is remarkable; it reveals a dual accomplishment. A literal interpretation may evoke a sense of shame and discomfort, hinting at the physical unions required by law. However, this symbolizes the One who must rise from the Jewish lineage—Christ, who came in the flesh—so that through the seed of divine teaching, He could awaken the lineage of a spiritually dead kinsman, namely, the nation. For Him, the statutes of the law are spiritually likened to the sandal representing betrothal to the Church.
And he who does not accept the Church has metaphorically removed his sandals. God instructed Moses to remove his sandals while on holy ground (Exodus 3:5), so that he would not be regarded as the Bridegroom of the Church. Only the true Bridegroom remains shod! This is why John proclaimed, ‘I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal’ (Luke 3:16), thus presenting himself as a forerunner and playing a vital role in the establishment of Israel.