Jesus’ Remarkable Family Tree
Written by e-Mom. Follow me on Twitter. Subscribe in a Reader
Some people love to travel around the world. Others consider themselves armchair travelers, crisscrossing the globe through the pages of a well-written book. Maybe you’re a “time traveler” enjoying stories about families who lived during previous historical periods.
This article is about time travel and history. During the month of December, many Christians participate in Advent activities to prepare for the birth of our Savior. Although most of us glaze over when the subject of Biblical genealogy comes up (e.g. who begat whom?) it’s particularly relevant to study Jesus’ family tree during the Advent season. In fact, this topic is pertinent to our faith at any time of year, since one of the foundational doctrines among Christians of all denominations is a belief in the Virgin birth. This essential doctrine always raises important questions about Jesus’ family tree.
Written by e-Mom. Follow me on Twitter. Subscribe in a Reader
Some people love to travel around the world. Others consider themselves armchair travelers, crisscrossing the globe through the pages of a well-written book. Maybe you’re a “time traveler” enjoying stories about families who lived during previous historical periods.
This article is about time travel and history. During the month of December, many Christians participate in Advent activities to prepare for the birth of our Savior. Although most of us glaze over when the subject of Biblical genealogy comes up (e.g. who begat whom?) it’s particularly relevant to study Jesus’ family tree during the Advent season. In fact, this topic is pertinent to our faith at any time of year, since one of the foundational doctrines among Christians of all denominations is a belief in the Virgin birth. This essential doctrine always raises important questions about Jesus’ family tree.
Luke's Gospel: Mary's Family Line
There are two passages in the NT which mention the genealogy of Christ. The first is the familiar Christmas passage found in Luke 3:23-38. Written primarily for a Gentile audience, Luke tells the Nativity story from the viewpoint of Mary. His genealogy starts with Jesus and traces his biological line backward to Adam, father to the whole human race. This procedure enables him to end with “the son of God,” and underscore his universal salvation message. There are 77 generations mentioned in total.
Luke… wanted to show his Gentile-Christian readers that Jesus was the fulfillment of the hopes of humanity.—Robert Stein, Jesus the Messiah
Matthew's Gospel: Joseph's Family Line
The second passage which mentions Jesus’ genealogy is found in Matthew 1:2-16. Here, we’re introduced to Jesus’ legal lineage. Writing primarily to a Jewish audience, Matthew tells his Nativity story from the standpoint of Joseph. In contrast to Luke and Greco-Roman genealogies, he records the names beginning with the oldest and moving forward to the most recent.
Since the Messiah was to be a descendent (son) of David, Matthew reminds his readers that Jesus is Jewish. Thus, he starts with Abraham (father of the Jewish people) and lists his descendants all the way down to Jesus. There are 41 generations in total, divided into 3 sections containing 14 generations including King David. (See Matt 1:17.)
Joseph’s naming of Jesus indicates an acceptance of Jesus as his legally adopted son (Matt 1:18-25). Therefore, because of Joseph’s decent from King David, Jesus is born into a Davidic family. He is considered legally qualified to inherit David’s throne as the Jewish Messiah.
Matthew wanted to show his Jewish-Christian readers that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Jewish hopes and promises.—Robert Stein, Jesus the Messiah
I’m indebted to A Survey of the New Testament by Robert H. Gundry and New Testament Survey by Merrill C. Tenney for the information above. Along with Jesus the Messiah: A Survey of the Life of Christ, these were textbooks in theology night classes I took at Northwest University. I highly recommend these books for your Christian library.
What’s So Special About Bible Genealogies Anyway?
"Genealogies reminded Jewish people of God’s sovereignty in arranging marriages and providing offspring. Sometimes they explained why a person behaved in a particular way (e.g., Moses’ descent from lawbreakers like Reuben, Simeon and Levi helps explain some of his own weaknesses in Exodus 6:12-30). Most important, they were essential to document a person’s proper lineage as a pure Israelite… a member of the priesthood or royalty.
Genealogies could also be used as unifying links between major figures in history; Genesis links Adam, Noah and Abraham in this way (Gen 5, 11). Matthew connects Jesus with the Old Testament narrative about the patriarchs, the Davidic kingly line and the exile."
"Women did not need to be recorded in ancient genealogies, but Matthew includes four women
(1:3, 5-6), three of them Gentiles (Gen 38:6; Josh 2:1; Ruth 1:4) and the other [Bathsheba] also a Gentile or at least the wife of a Gentile (2 Sam 11:3)—even though he omits the matriarchs prominent in Jewish tradition: Sarah, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel. Thus he hints from the Old Testament that God has always planned missions to all peoples (Mt 28:19)."
(1:3, 5-6), three of them Gentiles (Gen 38:6; Josh 2:1; Ruth 1:4) and the other [Bathsheba] also a Gentile or at least the wife of a Gentile (2 Sam 11:3)—even though he omits the matriarchs prominent in Jewish tradition: Sarah, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel. Thus he hints from the Old Testament that God has always planned missions to all peoples (Mt 28:19)."
Related
1. Short overview: “Why are Jesus' genealogies in Matthew and Luke so different?”
by Got Questions.org
1. Short overview: “Why are Jesus' genealogies in Matthew and Luke so different?” by Got Questions.org
2. In-depth study: “The Genealogy of Jesus Christ” by The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
3. See also Complete-Bible-Genealogy.com
4. Join the good folk at the Carnival of Family Life
Photos: mmmcrafts & rick (Flickr)
Up Next—Word-Filled-Wednesday
Tell me something about your family tree.Is it complicated?
9 Comments:
I haven't done an in depth study of my family tree, but this post has encouraged me to read more carefully when I come to the "begat" listings in Deuteronomy and Leviticus!
A very interesting post...thanks e-Mom!
My husband just taught yesterday's Bible study lesson on this topic! He taught on a few of the same points as you too. (Great minds, y'know) Very good study. I think things like this are so interesting!
He also said that when the Temple was destroyed in 70AD, the genealogies stored there were also irretrievably destroyed. (perhaps a sign that being a pure Israelite was no longer such a high priority?? More importance on faith in Jesus' sacrifice of grace than in physical evidence and the Law and sacrifices)
I've always loved family trees, so the "begat" verses always fascinated me.
My own family tree is pretty interesting (if your a member of my family, that is). Just about every branch traces back to the early 1800's or before, and I live in the same area that my ancestors originally settled. The most interesting thing to date, is that we have found that we are descended from General Joseph Warren.
Great post, thank you!
My side of the family tree has been traced back significantly - a lot of great stories coming with that. My grandma (now in a nursing home) did a lot of work and now my little sister has taken over and has done significant work.
My husband's side doesn't go very far and really can't...his great-grandfather committed a crime (deathbed confession I believe), and immediately after took a new name from a gravestone he saw, but never revealed his true name. (Coincidentally, that same name is my grandmother's maiden name...we're relieved to know the name was "borrowed.") So we'll never know. It's an interesting story but not one I think I have permission to tell beyond that.
as I like to call it I have a "culturally rich heritage" being 15th generation canadian on my dad's mothers side, yet only 3rd generation all around.. it's somewhat of a facinating huge mess and i love it!
Thank you for the post. I know I do tend to glaze over many geneologies, but I have always found Jesus lineage interesting especially the women mentioned. There were flawed and heartbroken women who's lives eventually led to his birth. That fact has helped me truly grasp and appreciate the meaning of grace. Loved your take on it. Thank you for your explanations!
Andrea: Good for you. Enjoy all those OT listings! :~D
Crickl: Thanks for the info about the Temple as a storage place for Jewish genealogy records. The Jews used the Temple as a bank vault too...
Yes, as Christians, WE are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. But I can understand how totally devastating it would have been for the Jews to lose their sacred building. And of course, its loss is still mourned at the famous Wailing Wall. (You've been there, right?)
Do you think there will be a third Millenial Temple? What does Charles teach? (Thanks for stopping by!)
April: Your history is fascinating, especially this: "I live in the same area that my ancestors originally settled." Wow!
Tara: Your story about your husband's great grandfather is sad but very interesting... the loss of family history due to a crime. I'm thinking of other families whose genealogies are marred/complicated by divorce and remarriage (like my parents.) Thanks for commenting today. :~D
Amydeanne: Have you seen your ancestry all graphed out? Knowing how visual you are, you might find it intriguing!
Jaime Kubik: I loved your thought: "There were flawed and heartbroken women who's lives eventually led to his birth. That fact has helped me truly grasp and appreciate the meaning of grace." So beautiful, and so true. :~D
Thank you for explaining about Jesus' legal lineage. I always wondered why they bothered explaining Joseph's family tree.
Something about my family tree ... my father could trace his descendants back to the seventeenth century when his ancestor was a Huguenot who escaped to England to avoid persecution by the French Roman Catholics.
Buffy: Your story is fascinating! One of my ancestors was a United Empire Loyalist (U.A.L.) in the U.S. War of Independence. ("The Rebellion.") He fled north to Canada, was captured, broke out of jail, and eventually settled in southern Ontario.
Another of my relatives met John Wesley when his family group were settled in Ireland by Queen Anne, after fleeing persecution by the Catholics in Germany.
Genealogy is fascinating when you add historical details, isn't it?
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