“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)” (Luke 2:4)
There are many books, articles, and internet sites available to help us delve into our genealogical records, find our lineage, and identify the famous and infamous people in our family trees. Most people have at least one family historian who has done some research.
However, to the Jews of Bible times, genealogies were more than just a hobby and were extremely important. Ancestry determined several important things: one’s claim on land (based on tribal location), inheritance, taxation (Joseph and Mary’s records were kept in Bethlehem); and lastly and most importantly, the validity of priesthood or royalty. (Ezra 2:61-63)
The Two Genealogies of Jesus
The New Testament contains two lists of the Messiah’s genealogical credentials. Matthew records his in Matthew 1:1-17, and Luke presents his in Luke 3:23-38.
Matthew satisfies the Jews’ concern about the Messiah’s legality by tracing Christ’s lineage from Abraham through David all the way to Jesus; whereas, Luke starts with Christ and traces His lineage backwards through David, Abraham, and all the way through to Adam. This shows us that Jesus, the Son of Man, was linked to all humanity, being all Man and all God at the same time.
The Difference in the Lists
Everyone has two genealogies – one paternal and one maternal. In Matthew, the genealogy is paternal, going through Jesus’ earthly father Joseph and Joseph’s father Jacob back to David. In Luke, the genealogy is maternal, going through Jesus’ mother Mary and Mary’s father Heli back to David.
The legal right to the throne of David comes through the Father. The proof is true even though Jesus was not the human son of Joseph. Because Joseph married Mary, the mother of Jesus, he became the legal father of Jesus. As a result, Jesus received from Joseph the full legal right to the throne of David.
Luke’s maternal genealogy further solidifies Jesus’ claim to the throne of David by proving He has the blood of David in His veins because of His mother Mary.
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and all other enemies of Christ always sought to discredit and disqualify Him as their Messiah but never once made His ancestry an issue because the records supported His claims as the Son of David.
Highlights of Luke’s Genealogy.
Jesus is the Son of God (Luke 3:38; 3:22). Adam was made in the unmarred and unspoiled image of God, but he fell. The Lord Jesus Christ, in contrast, came down in obedience becoming our second Adam, Seed of Abraham, Saviour, and High Priest (II Cor. 15:21-22; 15:45; Gal. 3:16; Heb. 4:15; Phil. 2:5-8).