The Genealogy of Jesus

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Luke 3:23-38

Reading Luke 3 today and noticing in the comments that Luke’s genealogy was Jesus’ descent through Mary’s ancestors and then looking at Matthew’s list and seeing that he traced Jesus’ ancestors through Joseph was a fresh insight for me. Joseph is descended from Solomon, giving Jesus royal lineage as “King of the Jews”. Mary is descended from David’s other son, Nathan. Jesus has non-royals in his ancestry, as well as “non-Jews”, making Jesus as human as us all and the “Savior of all mankind”. Either way you trace Jesus’ lineage, he’s a descendant of David just as Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 11:1.

Genealogy 1 – Matthew 1:1-17. Matthew a Jew, was writing primarily to the Jews. He presents an “edited” genealogy of 14 generations from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David to the Babylonian exile, and 14 generations from the return to Jesus. Matthew refers to Joseph in 1:16 as the “husband of Mary”, not the father of Jesus. Matthew also says that Joseph was the son of Jacob.

Genealogy 2 – Luke 3:23-38. Luke is a Gentile, writing to Gentiles to show that Jesus is the Savior of all, not Jews only. He shows Jesus’ genealogy all the way back past Abraham to Adam. Luke’s genealogy of Jesus contains 77 generations, grouped into 11 clusters of 7. Luke refers to Joseph as the son of Heli, not the son of Jacob. The consensus of thought is that Heli was Mary’s father, Joseph’s father-in-law.

I considered not addressing the genealogy of Jesus in our GraceNotes meditations this year, as I don’t want to “get down into the weeds” and deal with things just for information’s sake. As I prayerfully thought this through, I felt that it’s more than merely “interesting” and has some valuable things for us to think about concerning our own lives.

  • There are 60-70 major prophecies and as many as 350 or more mentions and allusions to the birth, life, and ministry of the Messiah. The birth, life, and ministry of Jesus fulfills them all. God knows his plan and can be trusted to do what he says he will do. Let’s believe largely and lastingly!
  • Throughout the life and ministry of Jesus he leaned into his Jewishness, yet included Jews and Gentiles, insiders and outsiders, rich and poor, healthy and sick, men and women, in the narrative of God’s Kingdom. The message of the Gospel is for all people of all races and conditions. Let’s not shrink the Gospel!

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for your faithfulness to give your word and fulfill it! Thank you for Jesus, a savior for all mankind. Thank you that your plan of the ages includes my friends and me, right here and right now! We believe you and we trust you. Amen!