How does Boaz's action in Ruth 4:5 reflect Christ's redemptive work for us? Text to Consider “Then Boaz said, ‘On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to perpetuate the name of the deceased through his inheritance.’” (Ruth 4:5) Boaz’s Costly Commitment • Boaz binds himself to both property and person, accepting every legal and financial obligation that comes with redeeming Naomi’s land. • He deliberately includes Ruth—an outsider—so the name of the dead may live on, even though this dilutes his own inheritance. • He acts publicly at the city gate, ensuring the transaction is irrevocable and witnessed by all. How This Mirrors Christ’s Redemption • Voluntary Initiative – As Boaz speaks first, so Christ “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). • Full Legal Satisfaction – Boaz fulfills every requirement of the kinsman-redeemer; Christ “fulfilled the Law” (Matthew 5:17) and satisfied divine justice on the cross (Romans 3:25-26). • Personal Identification – Boaz unites himself to Ruth; Christ “is not ashamed to call [us] brothers” (Hebrews 2:11). • Inclusion of the Outsider – Ruth, a Moabite, gains covenant standing; we, “once far off,” are “brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). • Preservation of a Name – Boaz preserves Elimelech’s line; Christ makes our names endure in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 3:5). • Public Declaration – The elders witness Boaz’s pledge; the cross was a public spectacle where Christ “disarmed the rulers and authorities” (Colossians 2:15), and the empty tomb openly validates His victory. Key Parallels in Redemptive Cost • Paying the Price – Boaz sacrifices potential heirs and resources; Christ “gave Himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2). • Bearing the Risk – Boaz risks his estate; Christ endures the curse of sin (Galatians 3:13). • Securing the Future – Land and lineage are restored; Christ grants “an inheritance that can never perish” (1 Peter 1:4). Living in the Light of Our Redeemer Because Christ has accomplished in reality what Boaz pictured in type: • We rest in a redemption that is complete, legal, and irreversible (John 19:30). • We rejoice that we, once strangers to the covenant, are now His beloved bride (Revelation 19:7-8). • We steward the spiritual “land” He has reclaimed—our lives, gifts, and callings—for His glory (1 Corinthians 6:20). |
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