The Kinsman-Redeemer: Three Requirements

Three Things a Redeemer Needed

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When a family in Israel fell on hard times, God did not leave them alone. He gave them a redeemer. Ruth's story shows us what a redeemer had to be.

What a redeemer did. “If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold” (Leviticus 25:25). A redeemer bought back what a poor relative had lost.

A family name. God's law also cared about a man who died with no son. A close relative could marry the widow, so that her first son would carry on the dead man's name (Deuteronomy 25:5-6). That is why Boaz spoke of keeping “the name of the dead” (Ruth 4:10).

First: a close relative. Not just anyone could redeem. It had to be family. Naomi said of Boaz, “This man is a relation of ours, one of our close relatives” (Ruth 2:20).

Next in line. Boaz told Ruth, “It is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I” (Ruth 3:12). The closest relative had the first right to redeem.

Second: able to pay. Buying back land cost money. Boaz was “a man of great wealth” (Ruth 2:1). He had what it took to pay the price.

Third: willing. Being related and having money was not enough. A redeemer had to want to do it. Boaz promised Ruth, “I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives!” (Ruth 3:13).

The man who held back. The closer relative was family, and he could pay. But when he heard about Ruth, he said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance” (Ruth 4:6). He was not willing to pay the cost.

The man who said yes. Boaz had all three. He was a relative, he was able, and he was willing. In front of the elders he said, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's” (Ruth 4:9).

More than money. Boaz did not only buy a field. He took Ruth as his wife and cared for Naomi too (Ruth 4:10, 13). Redeeming meant giving himself, not just his silver.

Why God gave this law. God wanted His people to know that no family was ever too poor to be rescued. Every redeemer in Israel was a small picture of how God Himself rescues.

God the Redeemer. God called Himself Israel's Redeemer. “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

What we learn. A true redeemer is close to us, able to save, and willing to pay. Boaz was all three for Ruth. Jesus is all three for you.

What to do. This week, thank God that He does not leave hurting people alone. Ask Him to show you someone you can help, even when it costs you something.

Ruth 4 is a legal scene at the city gate, and the law behind it is the law of the go'el (say: goh-AYL), the family member responsible to rescue a relative in trouble.

The word. Ga'al (say: gah-AHL) means to redeem, buy back or set free. Each time you read “close relative” in Ruth 2:20, 3:9, 3:12-13 and chapter 4, the Hebrew word is go'el.

The go'el's duties. The go'el bought back land sold in poverty (Leviticus 25:25) and bought back a relative sold as a servant (Leviticus 25:47-49). He was also the avenger of blood when a relative was murdered (Numbers 35:19).

Two duties meet in Ruth. Naomi's field (4:3) needed a land redeemer. Ruth, Mahlon's widow, needed a husband to raise up a son for “the name of the dead” (4:5), much like the brother's duty in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. Boaz joined both duties in one act.

Mark one: kinship. Leviticus 25:25 says “his redeeming relative.” The right belonged to family, in order of closeness. That is why the nearer kinsman had first choice (3:12; 4:4).

Mark two: ability. Ruth 2:1 calls Boaz a gibbor chayil (say: gib-BOR KHAH-yil), a man of strength and wealth. In 3:11 Boaz calls Ruth a woman of the same chayil, “a virtuous woman.”

Mark three: willingness. The law could not force a relative to redeem. Deuteronomy 25:7-10 even describes a brother who refused. Redemption had to be chosen, and Boaz chose it with an oath: “as the Lord lives!” (3:13).

Why the nearer man refused. If he bought the field and married Ruth, the field would pass to Ruth's son, counted as Mahlon's heir. He would spend his own money and shrink his own children's share. “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I ruin my own inheritance” (4:6).

Peloni almoni. Boaz calls him by a Hebrew phrase, peloni almoni (say: peh-loh-NEE al-moh-NEE), which means about the same as our word so-and-so (4:1). The man who guarded his own name is remembered without one. Boaz, who gave himself, is named in Matthew 1:5.

The sandal. Taking off the sandal handed the right of redemption to Boaz (4:7-8). It was the legal signature of the day, done before witnesses.

God as go'el. The Old Testament calls the Lord Himself Israel's Redeemer (Isaiah 43:1; Job 19:25; Psalm 19:14). Every human redeemer was a picture of the divine one.

Application. Love that costs nothing is easy. Boaz shows love that is near, able and willing. Ask God where He wants you to show that kind of love this week.

Jesus, Our Redeemer

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Boaz was a good redeemer for Ruth. But Ruth's story points to a far greater Redeemer. Jesus meets every need a redeemer had to meet, for everyone who trusts Him.

What we lost. Sin has made us poor before God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We cannot buy ourselves back.

He became our relative. A redeemer had to be family. So God's Son became a real man. “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law” (Galatians 4:4-5).

Not ashamed of us. Jesus “is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:11). Brethren means brothers and sisters. He became one of us on purpose.

He was able to pay. Boaz paid with silver, but silver could never pay for sin. “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold” (1 Peter 1:18).

The price. We were redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). Jesus never sinned, so His life could pay for ours.

Once for all. “With His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). The price never has to be paid again.

He was willing. No one forced Jesus to the cross. He came “to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). A ransom is the price paid to set someone free.

The good shepherd. “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). The closer relative held back to protect his own family. Jesus held nothing back.

Set free. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). He took our curse so that we could have His blessing.

Alive forever. Jesus died, was buried, and “rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:4). Our Redeemer is alive. “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25).

What He bought. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). He bought us back to belong to God.

What we learn. Boaz was near, able and willing for Ruth. Jesus is near, able and willing for you. He paid everything.

What to do. If you have never trusted Jesus as your Redeemer, you can tell Him today. Thank Him that He paid the price you could never pay.

The go'el law prepared Israel to understand what Jesus would do. Each mark of the kinsman-redeemer is fully met in Christ.

Kinship by becoming human. Hebrews 2:14 says that since “the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same.” The eternal Son took on a real human body and life so that He could be our near relative.

Brothers. Hebrews 2:11: “He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” The family tie is real. Jesus calls those who do His Father's will His brothers and sisters (Matthew 12:50).

Born under the law. Galatians 4:4-5 says He was born under the law “to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Being bought back leads to being adopted into God's family.

Ability: a sinless price. A redeemer who owed his own debt could not pay another's. Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21), so His death could pay for others. Peter sets silver and gold against “the precious blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:12 says He entered the Most Holy Place “with His own blood… once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Boaz's purchase lasted a lifetime. Christ's lasts forever.

Willingness. The nearer kinsman protected his own estate. Jesus “humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). He said He lays down His life by His own choice (John 10:18).

Ransom. Mark 10:45 uses the Greek lytron (say: LOO-tron), the price paid to free a slave or a captive. Jesus came “to give His life a ransom for many.”

Redeemed from the curse. Galatians 3:13: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.” The Redeemer took the debt onto Himself.

A living Redeemer. A go'el had to be alive to act for his family. Jesus rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), and He “always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

The song of the redeemed. In heaven they sing, “You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

Application. To call Jesus Redeemer is to admit we could not pay and to trust that He did. Thank Him by name for what He bought for you.

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