Christ's Life Prior to His Ministry I: Sections 3 & 4

Section 3: Matthew 1:1-17--Christ's genealogy through Joseph

There are 3 groupings of 14 generations---thus 42 generations from Abraham to Christ.  Matthew's audience was Jewish, thus one of his primary goals was to show the connection and fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenant through Jesus.  Matthew's lineage traces it through his father Joseph.

Some insights into Matthew's genealogy paraphrased from the BKC:

He chose to trace it through Joseph, Jesus' legal father.  This emphasized Christ's legal right to the throne.

He includes 5 women in the genealogy--Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary.

There were more generations perhaps, but Jewish genealogy did not require the inclusion of all.

"Matthew’s genealogy answered the important question a Jew would rightfully ask about anyone who claimed to be King of the Jews. Is He a descendant of David through the rightful line of succession? Matthew answered yes!" -BKC

 Section 4: Luke 3: 23-38--Christ's genealogy through Joseph

Luke does not begin his gospel with the genealogy; instead, he introduces this component after the birth narrative, at the beginning of the public ministry period of his life. Scholarly consensus suggests that Luke traces the genealogy through Mary's line here even though she is not explicitly mentioned.  The other possibility is that he is tracing Joseph's line but through a different path than Matthew.

Whereas Matthew's genealogy traces to Abraham as its beginning, Luke's traces back to Adam, described as "the son of God."  Luke emphasizes the connection here between Christ and man, fully human. Tracing it back to Adam and God also expresses the universal application of the gospel to all of humanity, not exclusively the Jews.

"Luke 3:23-38 list 76 names including Jesus and Adam and excluding God. Contrary to Matthew’s genealogy, Luke’s genealogy begins with Jesus and works back to God. Matthew began with Abraham and worked forward to Jesus in three sets of 14 generations. Other differences exist between the two genealogies. Luke included 20 names prior to Abraham, and he stated that Adam was “the son of God.” -BK

Luke relates that Jesus was "the supposed" son of Joseph because he was not his biological son.

The difference between the two genealogies is best viewed through the different purposes and lenses for which they crafted their lists.  Matthew emphasizes Jesus's legal and covenantal  connection back to Abraham. Luke emphasizes Christ's human connection back to Adam as the son of God.