The 10 Elders

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Ruth 4:9-10 “And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife.”

Before buying Naomi’s land and redeeming Ruth to be his wife, Boaz took 10 elders of the City to be witnesses (Ruth 4:2). And these 10 elders witnessed two things: First is that the nearest kinsman of Naomi couldn’t redeem Ruth. Second is that Boaz is very willing to buy Naomi’s land and take Ruth as his wife. Now, I want you to take note that the nearest Kinsman here represents the Law. Boaz represents the Lord Jesus Christ. Ruth represents us, the Bride and the 10 elders represent the 10 commandments.

We have seen that the Law could not buy the land because of Ruth (the Bride). But our Lord Jesus Christ (Boaz) is very willing to save us. These have been witnessed by the 10 Elders. The Serpent in Genesis 3 told us that we could live independently from God. This is obviously the reason why the Law is given to us. To show man that he couldn’t be holy apart from God’s life. So that “every mouth may be closed and all the world may be accountable to God” (Rom 3:19). If you understand this then it makes other verses make more sense like “the law came in so that our sins would INCREASE” (Rom. 5:20). At this point, the Ten Commandments (10 witnesses) are yelling to us loud and clear that you had better find another way to be saved because the Law can’t! They are pointing our Lord Jesus!