Many resources share about the birth of Jesus. What about his parents, Mary and Joseph? What do we know about other relatives of Jesus? Can we learn about the genealogy of Jesus from the Bible?
What Information Does the Old Testament Give about the Genealogy of Jesus?
According to the Old Testament, the Messiah would come from the line of David. Deuteronomy tells of a prophet who would be raised from the Jewish nation.
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15 NIV)
Isaiah spoke about a woman who people believed referenced Mary, the mother of Jesus.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)
2 Samuel 7:16 also revealed the promise of the Messiah.
By reading the Old Testament, we can learn about the prophecies about the Messiah. These prophecies remind us that God’s plan was already at work before Jesus was born. A variety of people shared prophecies. Some listeners believed, and others doubted.
What Is the Genealogy of Jesus in Matthew?
Whether we consider the recorded genealogy of Jesus in the New Testament book of Matthew or Luke, Scripture tells about the Messiah to come.
Matthew wrote his words to Jewish Christians to show that Jesus was King and the Messiah. He notes 14 different generations, although there were probably more. Sometimes, the numbers listed in Scripture have more of a symbolic point than a clear-cut literal point.
Matthew shares that Jesus was a descendant of David and, therefore, Jesus would be the legitimate Messiah. Beginning with Abraham, Matthew noted each person until the birth of Jesus.
- The genealogy of Jesus the Messiah begins by noting David, Abraham, Isaac, and others.
- As the list continues, Boaz, Rahab, and others are mentioned.
- The names include women and men. Some of these people had sinful natures. This reminds us that God can use anyone to share His message.
- The generations listed were specific with names, although not always listing occupations or positions in society.
“Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.” (Matthew 1:17 NIV)
Notice that from the beginning, Matthew calls Jesus the Messiah. Matthew also calls Jesus the son of David, which shows his royal roots. Also, he refers to Jesus and the son of Abraham, which would make Jesus an Israelite. Notice that in some places, the names of the mothers are mentioned. This included Mary, the mother of Jesus.
In Matthew’s recording, he affirms that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior the Jews had been awaiting for so long.
What is the Genealogy of Jesus in Luke?
While in Rome or possibly Caesarea, Luke writes a letter to Theophilus so the certainty that events taught would be known.
Instead of beginning with Abraham, Luke describes an angel promising the birth of John to Zechariah. Luke’s account is often performed in Sunday School or plays depicting the events leading up to the birth of Jesus, continuing with the life and experiences of Jesus.
Luke also wrote about the ministry of Jesus.
Vital facts in Luke’s message about Jesus the Messiah:
- Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.
- Jesus was thought to be the son of Joseph, the son of Heli.
- Some names in the lineage are recognizable and notable, while others listed are not as familiar or mentioned in detail in Scripture.
- Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, is noted.
- The lineage continues with “the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:38).
Notice that Luke does not call Jesus the physical son of Joseph. Luke was writing for the Gentiles and emphasized the biological connection between Mary and Jesus.
What Do the Two Genealogies of Jesus Have in Common?
Matthew and Luke both aim to communicate Jesus’ lineage and His relation to God. Both accounts provided information that Jesus was a descendant of David. Although the approaches of Matthew and Luke differ, the basic information is the same: Jesus is the Messiah.
The books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, called the synoptic Gospels, include some of the same events. So, by sharing similarities about the lineage of Jesus written by different people, we are apt to glean important facts.
Why Do the Gospels Give Two Different Genealogies of Jesus?
Historians have different theories about why there are two different genealogies of Jesus. Matthew follows the line of David’s son Solomon, while Luke follows the line of Nathan, another son of David. Luke also places the genealogy at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, whereas Matthew begins with a list of names.
So why is there a controversy about the different accounts?
One theory is that Luke provides Mary’s genealogy, whereas Matthew provides Joseph’s genealogy.
Another possibility is that Matthew provides a royal genealogy, while Luke gives a physical one. Another theory is that Matthew gives the legal account according to Jewish custom, while Luke provides a biological genealogy because he is writing for a Gentile audience.
Doug Bookman explains the most popular theory, the second one, and how it informs the way we read the story:
“The genealogies of Jesus may seem uninteresting (and perhaps even contradictory) at a glance, but they serve an important role in establishing His claim as the promised Messiah (Christ). When considered together, the two genealogies (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-28) reveal both His legal and physical descent according to the three Old Testament promises:
- The Messiah must be the seed of Woman (Genesis 3:15).
- The Messiah must be the descendant of Abraham through whom all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).
- The Messiah must be the descendent of King David (2 Samuel 7).
In this regard, Matthew's genealogy provides us with Christ's legal descent. The names show us how He fulfills the requirements as the rightful claimant to David's throne. Matthew did not intend to include every person in the lineage, but only those necessary to establish the connection from Abraham to David to Christ, using groups of fourteen names apiece likely to aid in memorization. Jesus, while not Joseph's actual son according to heredity, became the legal heir when Joseph married Mary and thus adopted Him.
On the other hand, Luke's genealogy reveals the physical genealogy of Jesus. The list may be through Mary's side, but because Matthew omits some of the names, Luke's genealogy could be Joseph's from another branch. We cannot be sure which line is used. What we can learn is that from this lineage, the connection follows from Adam to Judah to David to Christ (called the Second Adam by Paul).
The genealogies should be taken together as unified in purpose. That is, when viewed as a whole, they reveal Jesus's legitimate claim to David's throne and right to be the Messiah.”
Adapted from the lecture notes of Dr. Doug Bookman, professor of New Testament Exposition at Shepherds Theological Seminary (used by permission).
Why Are There Different Genealogies of Jesus?
Scripture gives different accounts of the genealogy of Jesus. How do we know if one is more reliable than others? God gave us His Word and chose the people who would record the events of biblical times. Therefore, Scripture can be trusted to be reliable and trustworthy.
In biblical times, genealogies and family stories were spoken and handed down from generation to generation. These words included beliefs, names of relatives, and more.
Genealogies offer historical truths and confirm the births and deaths of family members. They also provide proof of prophecies. For example, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would come from the line of David (Isaiah 11:1).
What Can We Learn from the Genealogy of Jesus?
Through the recorded words of people such as Matthew and Luke, we learn the names of the relatives of Jesus. Even though each record may have similarities and differences, the main focus is the lineage of Jesus. Each person’s name is recorded and leads to Jesus’ birth.
The Bible shares the promises made by God and how they were fulfilled. The Old Testament prophets spoke of a Savior that would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 17:19).
Sometimes, Jesus’ lineage included surprising people. Consider Rahab, the prostitute and Canaanite, who hid the two Israelites from harm. Her dedication and faith gave Rahab the courage to face the enemy.
As we read the genealogy of Jesus, we are reminded that every person is created uniquely by God and has a purpose, which means the good and the bad may be used to further the kingdom of God.
Father, thank You for giving Your Son Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins. Help us to realize the importance of heritage and the special gifts you provide to each of us so Your kingdom may be glorified. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Blessings,
Melissa Henderson
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/metamorworks
Melissa is the author of Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator. Her passions are helping in the community and church. Melissa is an Elder, Deacon, and Stephen Minister.
Follow Melissa on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and at http://www.melissaghenderson.
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