How can Jesus be the Son of David when he's not Joseph's biological son?

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How can Jesus be the Son of David when he's not Joseph's biological son?

by Questioning Christian
(USA)

We know for a fact that Jesus is not Joseph's biological son, Luke 3:23, but we cannot overlook the possibility that Joseph and Jesus were still blood relatives.

Your question assumes something we don't know and cannot prove, that Jesus is not a blood relative of Joseph. I believe Jesus probably was related by blood to Joseph although Joseph was not His biological father.

Matthew and Luke's genealogies are presented for a practical purpose, to show us the real humanity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was truly God yet He was also truly human.

Matthew 1:1 tells us this is "the book of the generation of Jesus Christ." Although Matthew 1:16 seems to indicate that this is the genealogy of Joseph (the legal but not the biological father of Jesus), we approach the question with God's assurance that this is "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ."

That is enough for us to trust the accuracy of the genealogy and that it IS indeed the genuine genealogy of Jesus' human ancestors. Because of their similarities then, both Matthew and Luke give the genealogy of Jesus.

Luke 3:23 seems to indicate that Dr. Luke is giving the genealogy of Joseph although some understand Luke to be giving Mary's genealogy. Luke carefully parses his words so that readers understand Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus, Luke 3:23.

Matthew, Luke and God were no doubt well aware that presenting the genealogies this way would raise questions. Therefore Matthew and Luke were careful to also indicate that Jesus is Messiah, God in the flesh, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:35, 47.

Here are the facts we have

God tells us clearly that Matthew's genealogy IS the generation of Jesus Christ, Matthew 1:1.
Since Matthew and Luke's genealogies are similar, we know that both genealogies trace the human Jewish lineage of Jesus based on Matthew 1:1.
Since Joseph in not the biological father of Jesus, Luke 3:23, how do Matthew and Luke's genealogy relate to Jesus?
We know that Jesus is the biological son of Mary, Matthew 1:16, Luke 2:16.
We can't prove that Jesus is not a blood relative of Joseph.
The most plausible explanation of the genealogies is that Mary and Joseph were blood relatives, legally allowed by Jewish law to marry.
As blood relatives, they shared some of the same relatives, some of the same bloodlines and similar genealogies. So Matthew 1 and Luke 3 give the genealogy of Mary, Joseph and Jesus as God intended us to have it.

This explanation (1) fits all the facts given in scripture without questioning the trustworthiness of scripture, (2) preserves the clear teaching of scripture that Jesus was virgin born without a man being involved, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:34, and (3) answers your question: How can Jesus be the son of David? Click here to add your comments.

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How can Jesus be the Son of David when he's not Joseph's biological son?

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Jul 28, 2010
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Another reason to consider
by: Marc

Joseph's lineage (through King Jeconiah) had a 'curse' on it from God. That's another reason why Jesus had to be born by a miracle (the virgin birth).

A. The last king of Israel to sit on the throne of David, Jeconiah, was so wicked that God promised none of his descendants would sit on David's throne in Jerusalem. - Jeremiah 22:24-30

B. Jesus legal lineage comes through Jeconiah, but his physical lineage comes through David via a different son than produced Jeconiah's line. - Luke 1:32-33

C. Only by adoption could both prophecies come true. Joseph was the adoptive but not the bio father of Jesus.

Being a Hebrew Christian, I use this point when telling fellow Jewish-folk about the Messiah.

Jul 29, 2010
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Near L.A.
by: Grant

"I believe that such complicated methods of figuring out the relationship between the two genealogies are unnecessary. An extremely simple explanation is readily available, and it involves no strange customs or textual twists at all. Both genealogies are clearly through Joseph.

I believe that one traces the lineage back through Joseph's father, and that the other traces back through Joseph's mother. However, the maternal genealogy drops the name of Joseph's mother, and instead skips back to her father. Which is which?

I believe that the genealogy in Luke is through Joseph's father. I believe the one in Matthew is through Joseph's maternal grandfather."

Another explanation which differs from yours but still upholds the Bible.

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How can Jesus be the Son of David when he's not Joseph's biological son?

Here are the facts we have

Comments for How can Jesus be the Son of David when he's not Joseph's biological son?

Comments for
How can Jesus be the Son of David when he's not Joseph's biological son?