“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.”

Matthew 1:1-17 (NKJV)

 

“Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph…the son of Adam, the son of God.”

Luke 3:23-38 (NKJV)

 

Many people believe that Jesus did not exist, or that if He did, He was not divine.

They will disregard the historical reliability of the New Testament as well as the testimonies of classic historical figures such as Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Josephus, and Lucian, who all referenced Jesus in their writings. Since antiquity, we have more than enough proof to corroborate Jesus' historical existence. Those who choose to deny the historical fact of Jesus do so partly out of prejudice and partly out of a rejection of God to marginalise the gospel message.

Although the genealogy of Jesus reported by Matthew and Luke appear inconsistent, they complement one another.

Matthew's genealogy is culturally significant because it was written primarily for a Jewish audience, connecting Jesus' royal/legal descent to David and Abraham through Joseph. Matthew begins with Abraham, the forefather of the Jewish race, and progresses to Joseph.

Luke's genealogy is collectively important for humanity because it was written for a Gentile audience, detailing Jesus' historical/hereditary ancestry through Mary to Adam the first man. Luke begins his genealogy in opposite order from Matthew's, beginning with Mary and working his way back to Adam and God.

The genealogies in Matthew and Luke are particularly important for explaining the history of God's salvation plan from the beginning of the Old Testament to the beginning of the New Testament. By studying these genealogies, we may confirm God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his offspring, Jesus the Messiah. Furthermore, we can regard Jesus as the ultimate heir to David's throne, whom God promised would establish a kingdom without end.

These genealogies, which are more than merely records of ancestral genealogy, plainly establish the historical authenticity of Jesus Christ as well as proof of His identity and mission. Jesus is not a myth, but a historical person with a long history. Let His story shapes your story.