The difference in the genealogy of Jesus presented in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 1 and Luke chapter 3 can be confusing at first, but they are not contradictory. The key to understanding the difference lies in recognizing that Matthew’s account presents Joseph’s genealogy, while Luke’s account presents Mary’s genealogy.
In Matthew’s account, the genealogy traces Jesus’ lineage from Abraham to David and then through Solomon (Nathan’s brother) down to Jacob, who is identified as Joseph’s father. Matthew’s purpose in presenting this genealogy is to establish Jesus’ rightful claim as the promised Messiah and King.
On the other hand, Luke’s account traces Jesus’ genealogy from Heli through Nathan (Solomon’s brother) to David, and then goes all the way back to Adam. Luke’s aim is to emphasize Jesus’ humanity, as he was born of the virgin Mary through the supernatural conception by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, you might wonder why Mary is not directly mentioned in Luke’s genealogy. The reason is that women were typically not directly included in genealogical records of that time. Instead, they were listed indirectly, as seen in the case of Boaz, who is mentioned as the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth. In Luke’s genealogy, Mary is replaced by her father Heli.
Regarding the reference to Joseph as “the son of Heli” in Luke’s genealogy, it’s important to note that Joseph is not actually Heli’s biological son. Joseph is the husband of Mary and, therefore, the son-in-law of Heli. The expression “Joseph, the son of Heli” is a mistranslation in some English versions, as it doesn’t accurately reflect the original Greek text. In the Greek scriptures, the expression is “Joseph of Heli,” and the Greek word for “son,” “huios,” is not present. Thus, Joseph is properly understood as Heli’s son-in-law.
In summary, the genealogy in Matthew traces Joseph’s lineage, highlighting Jesus’ claim to being the Messiah and King, while the genealogy in Luke traces Mary’s lineage, emphasizing Jesus’ humanity. Mary is indirectly represented through her father Heli, and Joseph is referred to as Heli’s son-in-law, not his biological son.