Genealogies of Jesus (The record of Jesus' ancestors)
Matthew 1:1-17 & Luke 3:23b-38
Jesus’ Genealogy as Traced through Joseph
1The historical record of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham†:
2Abraham fathered Isaac, Isaac fathered Jacob, Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers, 3Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Aram, 4Aram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 5Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth†, Obed fathered Jesse, 6aand Jesse fathered King David.
6bThen David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife, 7Solomon fathered Rehoboam, Rehoboam fathered Abijah, Abijah fathered Asa, 8Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat fathered Joram, Joram fathered Uzziah, 9Uzziah fathered Jotham, Jotham fathered Ahaz, Ahaz fathered Hezekiah, 10Hezekiah fathered Manasseh, Manasseh fathered Amon, Amon fathered Josiah, 11and Josiah fathered Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.
12Then after the exile to Babylon Jechoniah fathered Shealtiel, Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel, 13Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, Abiud fathered Eliakim, Eliakim fathered Azor, 14Azor fathered Zadok, Zadok fathered Achim, Achim fathered Eliud, 15Eliud fathered Eleazar, Eleazar fathered Matthan, Matthan fathered Jacob, 16and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called Messiah.
17So all the generations from Abraham to David were 14 generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, 14 generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, 14 generations.[1]
[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 12–13). Holman Bible Publishers.
Jesus’ Genealogy as Traced through Mary
23As He began His ministry, Jesus was about 30 years old and was thought to be the son of Joseph, son of Heli,
24son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,
25son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,
26son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,
27son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
28son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,
29son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,
30son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonan, son of Eliakim,
31son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,
32son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,
33son of Amminadab, son of Ram, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah,
34son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,
35son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,
36son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,
37son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,
38son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.[1]
[1] Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp. 13–14). Holman Bible Publishers.
| Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah 1 This is 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, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, 7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, 8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, 9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abihud, Abihud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Elihud, 15 Elihud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah. 17 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. | 23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josek, 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 Melki, 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 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 Eber, 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 Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. | ||
- Harmony of the Gospels on Founder's Passion
- Parallel Gospels = The Genealogy of Joseph in Matthew
- Harmony of the Four Gospels on Step Bible (After going to the site, click on resources on the top menu. Then click on Harmony of the Gospels to locate the section you want.
- Synthetic Harmony of the Gospels
- Harmony of the Gospels on BlueLetterBible.org
Summary: These genealogies highlight the lineage of Jesus Christ, detailing the ancestry from Abraham through David to Joseph, and contrasting Luke's account that traces back to Adam, emphasizing the humanity of Jesus.
Application: This message invites Christians to view their own backgrounds and ancestry in light of God's redemptive plan. It reassures those struggling with their past that they are part of a larger story of faith and redemption, just as Christ's ancestors were imperfect yet used by God.
Teaching: The genealogies teach that God often works through unlikely individuals, showcasing His sovereignty and grace. They remind us that every person's story matters in God's timeline and plan.
How this passage could point to Christ: The genealogies point directly to Christ as the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. Each name represents a story of struggle, faith, and ultimately hope, culminating in the birth of the Savior.
Big Idea: Every story in our family tree contributes to God's larger narrative of redemption, and through Christ, we find purpose and belonging regardless of our past.
Recommended Study: Consider examining the historical and cultural significance of the names listed in these genealogies, particularly how they relate to Jewish expectations of the Messiah. You may also explore the text-critical variants in manuscripts regarding these names in your resources, and how they shape our understanding of Jesus' identity as fully human and fully divine.
1. Patriarchs and Promises
You could begin with the patriarchs and kings in Jesus' lineage. Remind your audience that God chooses to work through unexpected heroes—tarnished stories like those of Rahab and Ruth. They were not Israelites by birth yet crucially part of God's plan. Encourage people to see their own imperfections as opportunities for God to display His grace, leading to transformation and purpose.
2. Kings and Failures
Perhaps emphasize the kings of Israel, whose reigns ranged from righteousness to rebellion. Despite their failings, God used them to further His redemptive work. This reveals how God redeems our failures and uses even our wayward paths for His glory, underscoring the importance of faithfulness even when one steps off the path.
3. Exiles and Endurance
Maybe focus on the post-exilic period showing continuity of God’s faithfulness through adversity. Each name represents survival and perseverance in times of chaos. Inspire your audience to find hope. No matter the external circumstances, they are part of God’s enduring story of hope, awaiting the coming of Christ just as His ancestors did.
4. Continuity and Connection
Delve into Luke’s genealogy, highlighting Jesus' connection to David through Nathan. Connect how, in God’s wisdom, the royal line was preserved through unexpected means. This suggests that God’s plans always prevail despite human shortcomings. Encourage believers to trust in God’s unseen hand in the complexities of their lives.
5. Ancestry and All-Inclusiveness
Explore the universal scope of Jesus’ lineage reaching back to Adam. This mirrors the inclusion of all humanity in God’s salvation plan. Reflect on how, through Christ, we become part of an eternal family that transcends earthly divisions, instilling a sense of belonging and divine purpose in every believer.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- Who is the historian in your family? What has he/she done to help you know more about your ancestors?
- If you were to explore in more detail the life of one of your ancestors, whose life would you investigate? Why?
- Whose life would you prefer not to know about?
- What is significant about Jesus being baptized at the same time as "all the people"? What three things happen at Jesus' baptism
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Matthew: A Gospel for Jews
Matthew wrote his Gospel for his own Jewish countrymen to show that Jesus was the Messiah who had been foretold in the Old Testament. This genealogy of Jesus at the very beginning of Matthew has a thoroughly Jewish orientation. Matthew traced Jesus’ family line all the way back to Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation.
Matthew also contains more quotations from the Old Testament than any of the other Gospels. After reporting on an event in the life of Jesus, Matthew often cites an Old Testament passage with this introductory phrase, “So that what was spoken through the prophet … might be fulfilled” (Matt. 8:17). He used this technique to show that Jesus was the Promised One whom the Jewish people had been expecting for several centuries.
God's Timing
Imagine the Savior of the world working in a small-town carpenter's shop until he was thirty years old! It seems incredible that Jesus would have been content to remain in Nazareth all that time, but he patiently trusted the Father's timing for his life and ministry. Priests began their ministry at thirty (Numbers 4:3). Joseph began serving the king of Egypt at thirty (Genesis 41:46), and David was thirty years old when he began to reign over Judah (2 Samuel 5:4). Age thirty, then, was a good time to begin an important task in the Jewish culture. Like Jesus, we need to resist the temptation to jump ahead before receiving the Spirit's direction. Are you waiting and wondering what your next step should be? Don't jump ahead—trust God's timing.
Matthew's genealogy goes back to Abraham and shows that Jesus was related to all Jews. Luke's genealogy goes back to Adam, showing that Jesus is related to all human beings. This is consistent with Luke's picture of Jesus as the Savior of the whole world.
Matthew 1:1-17
Matthew's account of Christ's genealogy reflects several interesting perspectives about the birth of Jesus. Here's one of them: Some form of gennaw (from ginomai) appears 41 times in the text. There are 39 consecutive occurrences of it in 3ps aor.act.ind. form before you get to vs. 16, where with reference to Jesus' birth from Mary, the term switches to passive. The 41st form, a participle, also passive, indicates that the conception was by means of the Spirit. The point: The generations from Abraham to David, from David to the captivity, from the captivity to Joseph all occurred because of direct human activity. Not so, though, with reference to the birth of Jesus. Neither Joseph nor Mary played any active role in that regard. That's to be understood in two ways, both related: first, with reference to the consistency of tense used 39 times in a row and, second, with regard to what that active tense was intended to convey. Though God's providential hand was involved through it all, there was always direct/active human agency and involvement in the generations leading to Christ, and only indirect/passive human involvement in the birth of Christ. The use of gennaw here reflects a definite and unique intentionality re the divine origin of the incarnate Christ. He was begotten of God. [see screen shot of gennaw terms in Mt. 1., from some of the reflections from my IGH260 studies.]
Interesting shift! In the case of the last two verbs, the voice is passive because the one who is begotten is the subject, rather than (as you pointed out with the active verbs) the one who begets. In other words, the passive/active voice shifts the focus from those who do the begetting to the one who is begotten of God.
Notice that Matthew’s purpose is to show that Jesus is legally of David, hence, legally qualified to be the expected Messiah. David is the only one mentioned five times from Matthew 1:1 to Matthew 1:17. (Once, and first, in 1:1; twice in 1:16 where both times he is “David the king,” and twice in 1:17. ) I suggest that this explains the count of 14, 14, 14. That adds to 42 generations from Abraham to Jesus, but only 41 are named. So count David twice! Abraham to David - 14. David to Josiah - 14 (Josias is unnamed in 1:17, but in this list he is the last counted before the carrying away into captivity). Jechonias to Jesus - 14 (Jechonias not named in 1:17 but he is the first in this list counted after the captivity.) So in keeping with the importance of David in Matthew’s purpose, count David twice, and it all adds up!
Matthew 1 gives the legal genealogy of Jesus through Joseph. It notes that Joseph's father was named "Jacob" (same name in the original as "James"). Is it any wonder, then, that the oldest child Joseph fathered was also named "Jacob" ("James," in our English translations)?
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