Kinsman-Redeemer.

You sometimes hear it said that Jesus is our kinsman-redeemer.  But what is that?

The phrase comes from the book of Ruth.  Naomi and her husband and sons left Israel during a famine and moved to Moab.  In Moab Naomi lost her husband and both sons.  She eventually returned to Israel accompanied only by her loyal daughter-in-law, Ruth.  Old and bitter, Naomi considers her life all but over.  But Ruth is young and Naomi encourages her to present herself to Boaz, a “prominent man of noble character” from her husband’s family.  At this point, Ruth has spent many weeks around Boaz during the barley and wheat harvests.  Perhaps Boaz will “redeem” Ruth. 

Boaz understands what is being asked of him, but says there is a redeemer who is closer in the family line than Boaz.  In order for Boaz to redeem Ruth, the other man must first decline the opportunity.  So Boaz gathers ten elders as witnesses and presents the situation. 

It’s about LAND. 

The land of Israel was divided among the tribes.  Tribal lands were then divided among clans, then families, and so on.  The land that once belonged to Naomi’s deceased husband must stay in the family.  But in order to stay in the family, the land must be REDEEMED by a close relative, a kinsman, who will pay the widow Naomi for the land.  But these lands also come with Ruth—the redeemer must marry Ruth and provide her with sons who will officially be considered the sons of Ruth’s deceased husband.  The closer family member declines, and Boaz then agrees to spend his money to purchase or “redeem” both the lands and Ruth.  Boaz becomes Ruth’s KINSMAN-REDEEMER, her family member who buys her back and keeps her in the family. (Boaz also becomes the great-grandfather of King David.)

And so it is with Jesus.  He is our kinsman-Redeemer, our family member who buys us back and restores our position in the family.  (Isn’t it amazing to know you are part of Jesus’s family—that He gives you a seat at His table?)

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