Luk 3:23-24 | KingComments | STEP | Luke mentions that the Lord Jesus is about thirty years of age when He begins His public service. In the Old Testament this is the age at which the Levites were allowed to start their public service ( ). Then Luke gives the genealogy of the Lord Jesus. He starts this genealogy with the remark that it is supposed that He is the Son of Joseph. Joseph is His father, that is, His lawful father. This is important for the legal rights of the Lord Jesus to the throne of David. These rights are shown in the genealogy of Joseph that Matthew gives ( ). If Luke then is giving the genealogy, this differs completely from the genealogy we have in the Gospel according to Matthew ( ) up to David in . This can only mean that we have here the genealogy that runs through Mary, as is generally accepted. He is Man by His birth from Mary. This did not have to be proven by a genealogy. Why then this genealogy? Because this genealogy goes all the way back to Adam who in turn came forth from the hand of God. This emphasizes that the Lord Jesus also as Man is the Son of God. In this reasoning Paul could also say to the Athenians that we as men are – not: the children of God but – “offspring of God” ( Darby Translation; ). Furthermore, we see in all the names mentioned here how God has determined and maintained the line through the ages that led to His ultimate goal: the birth of His Son. God has worked through all these ancestors to bring this Man into the world at just the right time. The whole history before Him is a preparation for His coming. Mary is a blessed woman among women, but also all these ancestors are favored to stand in the direct line through which the grace of God in His Son will take full shape.

‏ Luke 3:23-24

Genealogy of the Lord Jesus

Luke mentions that the Lord Jesus is about thirty years of age when He begins His public service. In the Old Testament this is the age at which the Levites were allowed to start their public service (Num 4:3 ; 23 ; 30 ; 35 ; 39 ; 43 ; 47).

Then Luke gives the genealogy of the Lord Jesus. He starts this genealogy with the remark that it is supposed that He is the Son of Joseph. Joseph is His father, that is, His lawful father. This is important for the legal rights of the Lord Jesus to the throne of David. These rights are shown in the genealogy of Joseph that Matthew gives (Mt 1:1-17). If Luke then is giving the genealogy, this differs completely from the genealogy we have in the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 1:6b-17) up to David in Lk 3:31. This can only mean that we have here the genealogy that runs through Mary, as is generally accepted.

He is Man by His birth from Mary. This did not have to be proven by a genealogy. Why then this genealogy? Because this genealogy goes all the way back to Adam who in turn came forth from the hand of God. This emphasizes that the Lord Jesus also as Man is the Son of God. In this reasoning Paul could also say to the Athenians that we as men are – not: the children of God but – “offspring of God” (Acts 17:29 Darby Translation; Gen 1:27).

Furthermore, we see in all the names mentioned here how God has determined and maintained the line through the ages that led to His ultimate goal: the birth of His Son. God has worked through all these ancestors to bring this Man into the world at just the right time. The whole history before Him is a preparation for His coming.

Mary is a blessed woman among women, but also all these ancestors are favored to stand in the direct line through which the grace of God in His Son will take full shape.