The Genealogy of Mary?
Luke 3:23-28
In Luke we again see the genealogy of Christ. There’s a major exception to in the one presented and Matthew Chapter 1. The major variation between Luke and Matthew begins in verse 31. Luke states that Jesse had David and David had Nathan (verse). Matthew states that Jesse had David and David had Solomon (verse). At this point Luke continues with completely different genealogy leading up to Joseph.
A bunch of commentary has been written about why this variation occurred. The most prevalent is that Luke is describing the genealogy of Mary and Matthew is describing the genealogy of Joseph. The problem with this theory is that both Matthew and Luke into end the genealogy with Joseph the husband of Mary (with a few variations). It is these variations that create a possible justification for the genealogy of Mary and Joseph.
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
(Luke 3:23)
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
(Matthew 1:16)
Luke makes an important distinction in his description of Joseph “…(as was supposed) the son of Joseph, …” This is Luke’s attempt to clarify Joseph’s actual position in reference to Jesus. To most of those who note Joseph, Jesus was his son. Joseph went to great lengths to ensure that no one knew that Mary was pregnant before their marriage. To all who knew the family Jesus was simply Joseph’s son. That is why the Luke says that he was the suppose that father of Jesus. For those who know the truth Joseph was not Jesus’s father.
Matthew states that Joseph’s father was a man named Jacob. Luke suggests that Joseph was the son of Heli. It is not unusual that once married for the son and law to be recognized as a son. Because It was traditional to write genealogies through the line of sons, after Mary was married to Joseph her genealogy was now perpetuated through Joseph the son-in-law. We in writing the genealogy of Jesus through the line of Mary her name would be excluded and replaced with Joseph the man she married the supposedly father of Jesus.
There is some documentation that suggest that Mary’s mother and father was, Joachim and Anne. This tradition has been perpetuated from a apocryphal writing called Protoevangelium of James. This tradition also suggests that Mary was always a virgin and never had any other children. That the children mention in the bible were Joseph’s children from another marriage. Or that these children were actually Cousins or nephews to Jesus.
I personally believe that Luke was demonstrating the genealogy of Mary. Because Luke knew that question would arise that Jesus is not Joseph’s son, so his genealogy technically fails to satisfy the prophecy that Jesus was a descendant of David (find scripture). By including Mary’s genealogy Luke demonstrates that Jesus is still a descendant of David despite the reality that he is not the blood son of Joseph.
Besides the fact of blood in israelite traditions once someone I adopted into the family they become heirs of their lineage.
Important note: I believe the relying strictly upon the scriptures to find your answers is the most reliable source of information. Commentary can be useful and often factual. But this should not trump the simple words of the scriptures. There is no canonized scripture documentation of the mother or father of Mary.
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Judas
Phares
Esrom
Aram
Aminadab
Naasson
Salmon
Booz
Obed
Jesse
David
Solomon
Raboam
Abia
Asa
Josaphat
Joram
Ozias
joatham
Achaz
Ezekias
Manasses
Amon
Josias
Jechonias
Salathiel
Zorobabel
Abiud
Eliakim
Azor
Sadoc
achim
Eliud
Eleazar
Matthan
Jacob
Joseph
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Judas
Phares
Esrom
Aram
Aminadab
Naasson
Salmon
Booz
Obed
Jesse
David
Nathan
Mattatha
Menan
Melea
Eliakim
Jonan
Joseph
Juda
Simeon
Levi
Matthat
Jorim
Eliezer
Joseph
Er
Elmodam
Cosam
Addi
Melchi
Neri
Salathiel
Zorobabel
Rhesa
Joanna
Juda
joseph
Semei
Mattathias
Maath
Nagge
Esli
Naum
Amos
Mattathias
Janna
Melchi
Levi
Matthat
Heli
Joseph
