Class: The Genealogy of Christ

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The Genealogy of Christ 

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • December 11, In the year of our Lord, 2013

1. A Comparison of Matthew and Luke’s Lists.
   1. Have you noticed a difference?
   2. Why is there a difference?
      1. Matthew starts with Abraham and descends to Jesus.
      2. Luke starts with Jesus and ascends to Adam, and ultimately to God.
         1. Why did Matthew start with Abraham, and
         2. why did Luke go to Adam?
            1. Matthew wrote to Jewish readers.
               1. Thus, establishing that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham.
               2. This was important to understand that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham.
                  1. Genesis 21.12
                  2. Genesis 22.18
            2. Luke wrote to non-Jewish readers and perhaps non-Roman readers.
               1. Thus, not only did Luke have to establish the connection of Jesus with Abraham, but Luke had to show the genealogy of Jesus ante-dates Abraham.
               2. Hence, Jesus is for all people.
   3. Any comparison that we do between the lists of Matthew and Luke has to be from Abraham to Jesus.
      1. Notice that Luke included more names than Matthew.
      2. Both writers include the same names until a certain point, then they diverge.
         1. What is that point?
         2. After David, the Gospel writers took different routes.
      3. They came together again with Shealtiel and Zerubbabel, then part until they reach Joseph and Mary.
   4. Here is Matthew’s list:
      1. Abraham
      2. Isaac
      3. Jacob
      4. Judah
      5. Perez and Zerah
      6. Hezron
      7. Ram
      8. Amminadab
      9. Nahshon
      10. Salmon
      11. Boaz
      12. Obed
      13. Jesse
      14. David
      15. Solomon
      16. Rehoboam
      17. Abijah
      18. Asa
      19. Jehoshaphat
      20. Joram
      21. Uzziah
      22. Jotham
      23. Ahaz
      24. Hezekiah
      25. Manasseh
      26. Amon
      27. Josiah
      28. Jeconiah
      29. Shealtiel
      30. Zerubbabel
      31. Abiud
      32. Eliakim
      33. Azor
      34. Zadok
      35. Achim
      36. Eliud
      37. Eleazar
      38. Matthan
      39. Jacob
      40. Joseph
      41. Jesus
   5. Here is Luke’s list:
      1. Abraham
      2. Isaac
      3. Jacob
      4. Judah
      5. Perez
      6. Hezron
      7. Ram
      8. Amminadab
      9. Nahshon
      10. Salmon
      11. Boaz
      12. Obed
      13. Jesse
      14. David
      15. Nathan
      16. Mattathah
      17. Menan
      18. Melea
      19. Eliakim
      20. Jonan
      21. Joseph
      22. Judah
      23. Simeon
      24. Levi
      25. Matthat
      26. Jorim
      27. Eliezer
      28. Jose
      29. Er
      30. Elmodam
      31. Cosam
      32. Addi
      33. Melchi
      34. Neri
      35. Shealtiel
      36. Zerubbabel
      37. Rhesa
      38. Joannas
      39. Judah
      40. Joseph
      41. Semei
      42. Mattathiah
      43. Maath
      44. Naggai
      45. Esli
      46. Nahum
      47. Amos
      48. Mattathiah
      49. Joseph
      50. Janna
      51. Melchi
      52. Levi
      53. Matthat
      54. Heli
      55. Joseph
      56. Jesus
2. Matthew recorded four women in the genealogy.
   1. Two of them, and perhaps three, were Gentiles.
   2. In what light do we know:
      1. Rahab?
      2. Tamar?
      3. Bathsheba?
         1. Thus, including or highlighting the sins of these women,
         2. shows that Jesus includes:
            1. women,
            2. Gentiles, and
            3. sinners.
3. The virgin birth
   1. Interestingly, Matthew used the word “begot” for the birth of every man, but
   2. notice how he stated the relationship between Jesus and Joseph – 1.16.
      1. See also Luke 2.23.
      2. This supports the rest of the narrative in Matthew 1, and
         1. the prophecies in Genesis 3.15 and Isaiah 7.14,
         2. that the Anointed One would be born of a virgin.
4. Matthew 1.17 says there were 42 generations, yet,
   1. when you read the names, you find that he listed 41 names.
   2. Matthew counted David twice in verse 6.
5. Can you choose from whom you have descended?
   1. Jesus could and did.
   2. What does that tell you about Him and whom He chose to have Himself descend?