His Genealogies

Both Matthew and Luke set forth the genealogies of Christ. The Old Testament opens with the thought, “Behold, I make all things.” The New Testament begins with the promise, “Behold, I make all things new.” This is why it introduces us right away to the Second Man, the Lord from Heaven. The inspired historian begins with Christ’s historic genealogy, for it must be made clear that He is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.

Matthew, especially interested in the Jew, sets forth Christ as “the son of David” and traces His lineage back two thousand years to Abraham. As the rightful Heir to the Kingdom, Matthew proclaims Christ as the King of Israel.

Luke, writing for the Gentiles, gives a careful outline of natural descendants and proves that Christ sprang from the first man, Adam. Step by step, he carries us back to the father of the human race. Prominence is given to Christ in Luke’s gospel as the Son of Man. As the Son of God, He became the Son of Man, that He might make the sons of men the sons of God.

As it was common for the Jews to distribute genealogies into divisions containing some mystical number, some generations were repeated or omitted. Three great epochs are covered by these genealogical trees, representing three great stages in the development of Old Testament promises in relation to men.