Final answer:
Matthew included certain Old Testament women in Jesus's genealogy to demonstrate God's grace, to emphasize the critical roles women have played in salvation history, and to show that Jesus's lineage is both diverse and inclusive.
Step-by-step explanation:
Matthew's inclusion of certain women from the Old Testament in his genealogy is significant for several reasons. It serves to highlight God's grace in bringing forth the Messiah, Jesus, through individuals who were not always viewed as socially or morally ideal. It also underlines the important role that women played in God's salvific history, contrary to the often marginalized positions of women in ancient societies. By referencing women such as Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba, Matthew emphasizes that Jesus's lineage is one of grace and inclusion, representing a diverse heritage rather than a patriarchal and ethnically pure one. These women's narratives are characterized by extraordinary faith and actions that influenced the course of Israel's history and God’s redemptive plan.