Faith & Reason Nexus

Matthew’s Genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17)

• Purpose: Matthew presents Jesus’ legal right to the Davidic throne through the line of Solomon, emphasizing Jesus as the promised King.
• Abridged List: Matthew’s genealogy is not exhaustive. Some names are omitted, but this does not invalidate the line of descent.
• 42 Generations: Matthew’s list contains 42 generations, grouped into three sets of 14, covering approximately 2,000 years. The third group has only 13 generations, with the 14th likely referring to Mary.
  • 1st Group: Covers 1,000 years (from Abraham to David)
  • 2nd Group: Covers 400 years (from Solomon to Jeconiah)
  • 3rd Group: Covers 600 years (from Jeconiah to Jesus)
• Descending Order: Matthew lists the generations in descending order using the phrase “begat” (showing descent).

Luke’s Genealogy (Luke 3:23-38)

• Purpose: Luke traces the physical ancestry of Jesus, going back to Adam, highlighting Jesus’ connection to all of humanity.
• Descending Order: Luke’s genealogy is also in descending order but uses the phrase “was the son of.”
• Going Back to Adam: Unlike Matthew, Luke traces Jesus’ lineage all the way back to Adam, showing Jesus as the son of humanity.

1 Chronicles 1:1-9

• Provides a more complete list of the genealogical line, especially focusing on the broader history of the Israelites.

The Lineage Transmitted Through 4,000 Years

• The family line of Jesus spans approximately 4,000 years, with multiple generations passed down from Adam to Christ.

Matthew’s Genealogy and the Line of Solomon

• Legal Claim to the Throne: Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ legal claim to the throne of David through the line of Solomon, the son of David and Bathsheba.
• Lineage Details: Matthew’s genealogy ends with Joseph, the husband of Mary, through whom Jesus’ royal legal right is transmitted.

Luke’s Genealogy and the Line of David

• Different Line: Luke traces Jesus’ lineage through a different son of David, Nathan, which intersects with the line of Solomon at Shealtiel and Zerubbabel, but diverges otherwise.
• Through Mary: Luke’s genealogy is often interpreted as representing Mary’s line, though it is presented in the name of Joseph, as was the Jewish custom.

Mary and Joseph’s Genealogies

• Mary’s Lineage: Though Mary’s genealogy is not explicitly given, it is often inferred from Luke’s account. Mary’s line of descent does not confer a legal right to the throne; this right came through Joseph.
• Joseph as “Son of Heli”: The phrase “son of Heli” in Luke 3:23 refers to Joseph as the son-in-law of Heli (Mary’s father), but according to Matthew 1:16, Joseph’s biological father was Jacob.
• Legal Royal Claim: Jesus’ legal claim to the throne of David came through Joseph, his legal father, since Mary, though of Davidic descent, had no legal claim.

The Significance of Joseph and Mary’s Marriage

• The marriage between Mary and Joseph established Jesus’ legal right to the throne of David, ensuring that his royal lineage could not be rejected, even though His physical descent came through Mary.

This genealogy underlines both the legal and biological aspects of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, fulfilling God’s promises through the line of David while adhering to Jewish traditions of legal succession.