In the Book of Ruth how is Boaz is a type of Christ? 509 - 4 - 4

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 deals with Levirate Marriage requiring that when a man died without heir, a close relative (Kinsman-Redeemer) should marry the widow. This would usually be a brother to the deceased, however in the absence of a brother, a near kinsman would do. The Levirate Marriage would perpetuate the family name thereby keeping the land in the family. The Kinsman-Redeemer had to be a near kinsman, able and willing to perform, and must assume all the obligations.

Both Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi had been left childless in pagan Moab. Naomi by the deaths of her husband Elimelech and two sons and Ruth by the death of her husband. Ruth 1:22, “So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.”

Under the law, land owners could only make one pass over the land when harvesting and were to leave some of the grain as gleanings for those in need. To provide food Ruth gleaned in fields owned by Boaz who came to love her.

The Book of Ruth is prophetic with Boaz being a type of Christ. As much as Boaz may have loved Ruth, he had to wait for her to make the first move just as Jesus will not impose Himself on us. Like Ruth with Boaz, we need to ask Jesus into our lives. In accordance with the law Ruth asked Boaz to marry her by asking him to “spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.” 

There was a nearer kinsman who was unwilling to be Kinsman-Redeemer, Ruth 4:6, “And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.” This nearer kinsman “drew off his shoe” as a testimony. and the nearer kinsman refused to marry Ruth. As the next nearer kinsman, Boaz was free to marry Ruth thereby redeeming the land and the widows. Naomi represents Israel, Ruth is the Gentile Bride and Boaz is the Goel, the Kinsman-Redeemer, the Lord of the Harvest.

As our Kinsman-Redeemer Jesus is our kinsman if we have a personal relationship with him. Jesus was willing to endure torture and an excreting death on the cross for His Church. As wholly man and wholly God Jesus was qualified to be our propitiation, to assume all the obligations of our part, present and future sins.