Our Kinsman-Redeemer
Ruth 2:17–20
That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers. Ruth 2:20 (NIV)

According to Jewish law, property should remain within a family if possible. If a Jewish person lost his or her share of the land through debt or by some other means, a near relative (if there was one) was supposed to buy the property back. This person, because of his or her close relationship to the one who had lost the property, was a “kinsman,” and if he was willing and able to purchase the property and restore it to the family, he became a “kinsman-redeemer.” In some cases in which there was no male heir to inherit the property after the owner’s death, the duty of the kinsman extended to marrying the widow in order to raise up heirs.

A kinsman-redeemer had to fulfill three qualifications:
1. He had to be a close relative (a stranger would not do).
2. He had to be willing to take on this responsibility (nobody could be compelled to do this work).
3. He had to be able to pay the ransom price; that is, he had to have sufficient means at his disposal.

These three conditions were fulfilled in the case of Jesus Christ, and they are best illustrated in the story of Ruth and her redeemer Boaz. Naomi realized that God was arranging circumstances so that Boaz could perform the duties of a kinsman-redeemer for her, in regard to her inheritance, and for Ruth, in regard to raising up an heir. When Ruth called him her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz was delighted, for it meant that Ruth was interested in him and had not, as he said, “gone after young men, whether poor or rich” (3:10). As it turned out, there was another relative who was interested in the land but was unable to fulfill the obligation to Ruth, so Boaz willingly bought the land and married Ruth.

In redeeming us, Jesus did exactly what this beautiful story illustrates:
(1) he became our kinsman by the incarnation, being born in the town of Bethlehem,
(2) he was willing to be our Redeemer, because of his love for us, and
(3) he was able to redeem us because he alone could provide an adequate redemption price by dying. We rightly sing: There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin; He only could unlock the gate Of heaven, and let us in.

The redemption of Ruth may not have cost Boaz a great deal, at the most only money, but our redemption cost Jesus Christ his life.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.