Below are the genealogies of Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38. Advent season is a good time to browse these lists together for a variety of reasons. First, it let’s us see what we can find in common, e.g. both include Abraham, David, and Joseph. Second, it helps us see what each author sought to emphasize by examining the differences (remember, these aren’t strict genealogies like one might expect, but Christological in aim). Third, it forces us to ask questions about their literary design, e.g. Matthew’s sets of fourteen, his choice to begin with Abraham, his inclusion of Gentiles women and Luke’s choice to begin with Joseph, his decision to end with Adam “the Son of God”, his placement in the narrative at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in contrast with Matthew’s use of the genealogy to open his Gospel.
What about these genealogies stand out for you?
| Matthew 1:1-17
1 The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. 4 Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse was the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asa. 8 Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor. 14 Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. [1]
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Luke 3:23-38
23 When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Hesli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, 33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, 35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Heber, the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. [2]
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To think that a listing of genealogies can be such an effective source of ministry! Jesus, the world’s most interesting person: Son of Man and Son of God.
Indeed, there is a lot that can be said based on the genealogies that is quite edifying.
I preached a sermon on Matthew’s genealogy once and it was well received (I have video of it if anyone cares to view it). In it I highlighted verse 17 as my controlling narrative to establish Wright’s concept of the Kingdom as “return from exile”. Matthew moves through the major epochs in Israel’s redemptive history, Abraham, David, Exile and Messiah. I point to these as periods because Babylon is not a person but a period of exile that ends with the coming of the Messiah.
That sounds interesting. Is it online somewhere? Feel free to leave the link!
Thanks, I appreciate that.
You can view it here: http://tinyurl.com/bqrqs25
Here’s a polemic I saved. Have no idea if these folks are onto something or not.
http://www.jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/5_6/genealogy
I’ve always associated the title “Son of God” with Jesus’ Davidic connection. It seems odd that Luke connects it to Adam. I’ve always been drawn to the Matthean version because of the neat divisions of 14. I’ve also seen it tie nicely with the exile theme. Ever since I’ve read Wright, I can’t stop seeing the exile theme when I read the Gospels.
Bobby
Thanks for the link!
Patrick
Looks like a new take on things. I will have to read over it.
Ben
I have as well, but there seems to be Pauline influenced here, drawing on ideas found in Rom 5 and 1 Cor 15 (if Luke knew Paul this is no surprise), so maybe we are seeing an early glimpse of “Son of God” moving from a royal theme to saying something about the nature of Messiah (seen also in John)?