The Genealogy of Jesus According to Luke                                              Lesson 2

Luke 3: 23-38

The Genealogy of Jesus

²³Now 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, ²⁴the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ³¹the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³²the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, ³³the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, ³⁸the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Thought to Ponder:

What do you think the main reason is for the difference between Matthew’s and Luke’s genealogy?

• Matthew begins with Abraham who was the father of the Jewish people and traces the line forward to Jesus using only those who were legal heirs to the throne. Since Joseph was Jesus’ legal father his legal right as heir to the throne of David was established.
• Luke traced the line in reverse and went back to Adam, thus establishing that Jesus had a relationship with the human race as a whole.

Thought to Ponder:

How are the two genealogies the same?

• From Abraham to David they are the same. This reinforced that Jesus was a descendant of David.

Thought to Ponder:

Why did Luke choose to trace the line backwards from Mary?

• Mary was Jesus’ blood relative.
• Emphasis on the virgin birth.

Click here "The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold"  lesson three.