Question:
Why do Matthew & Luke have a different genealogy to Jesus?
Answer:
Matthew 1:5,6 says, “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and DAVID THE KING BEGAT SOLOMON of her that had been the wife of Urias.”
Luke 3:31,32 says, “Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of NATHAN, WHICH WAS THE SON OF DAVID, Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson.”
The ROYAL LINE is obviously listed in the Book of Matthew, because it traces Jesus’ lineage through David and Solomon. This would probably be Joseph’s line, because the father’s line would be the legal or official line (even though Joseph was not Jesus’ REAL father, he was his LEGAL father or guardian). Luke 3:23 says, “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, BEING (AS WAS SUPPOSED) THE SON OF JOSEPH…”
The genealogy in the Book of Luke begins with that phrase just noted above, so many think that this is Mary’s genealogy listed here. Matthew would have listed the ROYAL genealogy, and Luke would have listed the EARTHLY genealogy going all the way back though Adam. Remember the promise of Genesis 3:15? “And I will put enmity BETWEEN THEE AND THE WOMAN, and between thy seed AND HER SEED; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” The Holy Spirit may have had Luke list Mary’s genealogy to show the fulfillment of that prophecy — THE WOMAN’S SEED (the Lord Jesus Christ) BRUISING THE SERPENT’S HEAD.