The last major section of Luke contains a genealogy of Christ. While it may seem like a boring list of many difficult-to-pronounce names, the genealogy is a very important record of Christ.
The Purpose in the Certifying (Luke 3:23–38)
“Which was the son of David” (Luke 3:31). This part of the genealogy is what makes it so very important. The purpose of this genealogy was to give the royal pedigree of Jesus Christ. It was promised to David that Christ should descend from him (II Samuel 7:12; Psalm 132:11). So for Christ to claim to be the Messiah and the inheritor of David’s throne, it must be established that He is from the line of David. Both this genealogy in Luke and the one in Matthew certify Christ’s claim to the throne. One of the great indictments upon the Jewish leaders, when Christ was ministering upon the earth, is that these genealogy records were available to them to substantiate the exclusive claim of Christ for the throne; but they ignored the records regarding Christ. Unbelief is not a problem of lack of facts but a problem of a lack of faith.
The Parents in the Certifying (Luke 3:23–38)
Both Matthew and Luke give a detailed genealogy of Jesus Christ. But the names are different. What does this mean? It means the genealogies are through a different parent.
The particulars about the parents. The genealogy in Matthew is that of Joseph while this one in Luke is that of Mary. That Matthew’s genealogy is of Joseph is stated in Matthew 1:16 at the end of the genealogy, “Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” That Luke’s genealogy is of Mary is indicated by Luke 3:23. “Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph.” Genealogies were not given through women (though women were sometimes mentioned in them) but were given through man, so Joseph is listed as the source of both. Thus in the genealogy in Luke “Joseph, which was the son of Heli” (Luke 1:23) says Joseph was the son-in-law, not an actual blood related son, of Heli.
The proof in the parents. Further proof that Joseph and Mary were of the lineage of David is found in other Scripture—Joseph was called “thou son of David” (Matthew 1:20) by the angel, and to Mary the angel said about Jesus her Son, “The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David” (Luke 1:32). He could not be given the throne unless He was a descendant of David, so Mary had to be of the lineage of David.
The preservation in the parents. The listing is done in such a way that it preserves the virgin birth truth. “The husband of Mary” (Matthew 1:16) and “Jesus … (as was supposed) the son of Joseph” (Luke 3:23). “As was supposed” reveals some of the reproach Joseph and Mary experienced in the pregnancy and birth of Christ. The thinking of many people was that Christ was a result of an immoral liaison between Joseph and Mary before they were officially married. This thinking is seen in the accusation in John 8:41, “We be not born of fornication.”
The People in the Certifying (Luke 3:23–38)
We will not examine every individual listed here, but we will look at them in a general way to learn several lessons.
The contrast in the people. The order in which the names are listed is a great contrast to the way they are listed in Matthew’s genealogy. Matthew starts with Abraham and ends with Jesus. Luke starts with Jesus and ends with Adam. Matthew was writing primarily to Jews and so starting at Abraham would especially show Christ’ relationship to the Jewish people which was important because Christ was promised through Abraham (Genesis 12:3; 22:18; Galatians 3:16). Luke ending with Adam shows the availability of the Gospel to all peoples. Luke was not written primarily to Jews. Being an associate of the Apostle Paul who said he was “the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles” (Romans 15:16) would help Luke to see the universal offer of the Gospel to all peoples hence his genealogy ends with Adam.
The conclusion in the people. “Which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God” (Luke 3:38). As we have just noted, Luke having a more universal outlook of the Gospel offer ends his genealogy with Adam showing Christ is for all mankind, not just for the Jews.
The Period of the Certifying (Luke 3:23)
“Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). Luke’s genealogy begins by speaking about the age of Christ. This is one of only two references in the Bible (both are in Luke) to the human age of Christ. The other reference (Luke 2:42) speaks of Christ when He was twelve years old.
Thirty was a significant age for the Jews. “This was the age at which the Levites entered upon their work; the age, too, at which it was lawful for scribes to teach. Generally speaking, thirty among the Jews was looked upon as the time of life when manhood had reached its full development” (Spence) Significantly thirty was also the age of Joseph of the Old Testament when he was taken out of prison and began to serve Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46), and thirty was the age of David when he began to reign as king (II Samuel 5:4).
That Christ was thirty before He began His public ministry is a lesson about patience and preparation. So often we are eager to get in a place of service we pluck the fruit before it is ripe. We get involved in service before we are ready and then make a mess of things. “Thirty” does not teach procrastination but it teaches patience in preparation.
The Place in the Certifying (Luke 3:23–38)
Matthew places the genealogy of Christ at the beginning of his Gospel. The location of the genealogy in Matthew is most fitting inasmuch as Matthew begins the New Testament. Luke waits until after reporting the baptism of Christ before he records the genealogy of Christ. Luke’s delay (compared to Matthew) in recording the genealogy is not without purpose. We see the purpose by noting that the genealogy in Luke immediately follows the account of Christ’s baptism. His baptism concluded with “Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). The next verse begins the genealogy section of Luke. At Christ’s baptism God gave the vocal confirmation that Jesus was the Son of God. Luke immediately and fittingly follows with the genealogy which gives the confirmation of Jesus as the Son of man. Thus the genealogy is also very appropriately located in Luke.
The locations of Christ’s genealogies in Matthew and Luke are more illustrations of the Bible’s excellent literary style which does not need to take a back seat to any literature of man.
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