Why are the genealogies in Matthew and Luke different?

• The writers had two different goals. Luke’s genealogy, aiming to show Christ as the redeemer of humanity, goes all the way back to Adam (Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–28). Matthew’s purpose is somewhat narrower: to demonstrate that Christ is the King and Messiah of Israel. (Matthew quotes more than sixty times from Old Testament prophetic passages, emphasizing how Christ fulfills all those promises.)

• The two genealogies take different chronological views of Jesus’ family tree. Luke goes from the present to the past, beginning with Jesus’ grandfather and going all the way back to Adam and God. Matthew, however, approaches matters in the opposite fashion. He goes from the past to the present, starting with Abraham and ending with Jesus.

• In Matthew, the genealogy is paternal, going through Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph; and Joseph’s father, Jacob; back to David. In Luke, the genealogy is maternal, going through Jesus’ mother, Mary; and Mary’s father, Heli; back to David.

• Matthew’s paternal genealogy proved that Jesus came from a line that proceeded from David through Solomon. That proof is true even though Jesus was not the human son of Joseph. Because Joseph married Mary, the mother of Jesus, he became the legal father of Jesus. As a result, Jesus received from Joseph the full legal right to the throne of David.

• Luke’s maternal genealogy further solidifies Jesus’ claim to the throne of David by proving that He has the blood of David in His veins because of His mother, Mary. So, either way, Jesus is a genuine, legitimate descendant of King David.

• In summary, the Messiah is king legally through Joseph and naturally through Mary. His scriptural credentials are thorough, clear, and irrefutable. From every perspective, we can crown Jesus King of kings and Lord of lords.