Ruth is informed by Boaz that the Jewish law obligates her to someone else before him.

Ruth 3:12-14

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“Now it is true that I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.” Ruth 3:12

Ruth, a Moabitess, wanted Boaz to redeem her by bringing her under his wing as a Jewish man from Bethlehem, Judah. The redemption would give Ruth a place among the Jewish people, the family of God, with prosperity. This would basically be an adoption process where Ruth would become Boaz’s. However, the right to redeem someone belonged to a senior member of the family, and Boaz was not that senior person, but was next in line. That is why Boaz said, “…there is a relative closer than I.”

When our Lord Jesus came, the Pharisees had the first rights to the scriptures and to bring others into the family of God. Technically, and by the laws of Judaism, Jesus did not have the right to do the duties of a priest, that belonged to the Levites [from the Tribe of Levi]. All priests were from the Tribe of Levi by Jewish law. Our Lord Jesus was from the tribe of Judah. This is explained in Hebrews 7.

“Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood.” Hebrews 7:11-14

“Stay this night, and in the morning it shall be that if he will perform the duty of a close relative for you—good; let him do it. But if he does not want to perform the duty for you, then I will perform the duty for you, as the Lord lives! Lie down until morning. So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”” Ruth 3:13-14

Boaz encouraged Ruth to stay with him, and when morning comes, if the close relative does not want to redeem her, that’s good by him, but if he doesn’t then Boaz promised to redeem her. When Jesus Christ was on this earth teaching about the Kingdom of God, He encouraged the Pharisees and leaders of the Jewish culture to perform their duty to God by teaching the people a proper interpretation of the word of God. However, they were not doing their duty of to redeem people to God, as Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matthew 23:15

As described in the entire chapter of Matthew 23, the Pharisees and scribes had no intention of performing their duty to bring people to God as God intended. For this reason, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the Jewish people to Him. Because the Jewish culture rejected His message to them, Jesus became the redeemer of all the world. Jesus was saying what Boaz said to Ruth, “If they perform their duty good, if not then I will redeem you.” “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

“Lie down until morning. So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”” Ruth 3:13-14

Boaz was in the process of planning to redeem Ruth to bring her under his wing through a process similar to adoption. He wanted Ruth to stay with Him. Because a senior family member had the first rights to redeeming Ruth, Boaz did not want it to appear that he was trying to undermine the process by colluding with her. That is why he said to those who saw the two at the threshing floor, “Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”

When our Lord Jesus was on this earth in His plan to redeem the Jewish people [and the world] to God, He often wanted no one to go around telling everyone about Him. We can envision that He did not want to undermine the Jewish leadership while He was trying to conform them to the will of God. We can also envision that He was protecting His new converts from the wrath, cruelty, and persecution of the Pharisees. Most importantly, Jesus knew it was more important what was growing in the heart and mind of the people than undermining the Jewish authority. Jesus teaches us, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” Matthew 13:33 Jesus also said that people who have ears to hear will understand His words, which the Pharisees were not listening to the words of Jesus [even though we know Paul eventually did, who before was a Pharisee of all Pharisees and a persecutor of Christians]. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 13

While in the process of redeeming the world and adopting non-Jewish people into the family of God, Jesus also did not want to appear to be undermining the Jewish culture. Even so, people everywhere were believing in Him. Jesus wanted that belief to grow in their heart and mind, but did not want it blurted out before the time had come, “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.” Mark 8:29-30

Jesus Christ was miraculously healing people and forgiving their sin, and what was spilling over in their heart could not be shut out. This was not a planned revolution against the Jewish culture, just simply giving people a joy, peace, and wholeness like never before, “Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Mark 7:36-37

Jesus even taught those He cleansed to be reverent and respectful to those in authority within their overflowing joy that could not be suppressed, “Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” Matthew 8:3-4

We live in an atheistic world that is hostile to belief in the living God, the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ is scoffed at, and the presence of the Holy Spirit is oppressed. It is near impossible to share our born-again experience with others [which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart]. Jesus said this would happen, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:4

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’” “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1