h, the _son_ of
Joda, 27 the _son_ of Joanan, the _son_ of Rhesa, the _son_ of
Zerubbabel, the _son_ of Shealtiel, the _son_ of Neri, 28 the
_son_ of Melchi, the _son_ of Addi, the _son_ of Cosam, the _son_
of Elmadam, the _son_ of Er, 29 the _son_ of Jesus, the _son_ of
Eliezer, the _son_ of Jorim, the _son_ of Matthat, the _son_ of
Levi, 30 the _son_ of Symeon, the _son_ of Judas, the _son_ of
Joseph, the _son_ of Jonam, the _son_ of Eliakim, 31 the _son_ of
Melea, the _son_ of Menna, the _son_ of Mattatha, the _son_ of
Nathan, the _son_ of David, 32 the _son_ of Jesse, the _son_ of
Obed, the _son_ of Boaz, the _son_ of Salmon, the _son_ of
Nahshon, 33 the _son_ of Amminadab, the _son_ of Arni, the _son_
of Hezron, the _son_ of Perez, the _son_ of Judah, 34 the _son_ of
Jacob, the _son_ of Isaac, the _son_ of Abraham, the _son_ of
Terah, the _son_ of Nahor, 35 the _son_ of Serug, the _son_ of
Reu, the _son_ of Peleg, the _son_ of Eber, the _son_ of Shelah,
36 the _son_ of Cainan, the _son_ of Arphaxad, the _son_ of Shem,
the _son_ of Noah, the _son_ of Lamech, 37 the _son_ of
Methuselah, the _son_ of Enoch, the _son_ of Jared, the _son_ of
Mahalaleel, the _son_ of Cainan, 38 the _son_ of Enos, the _son_
of Seth, the _son_ of Adam, the _son_ of God.

The genealogy of Jesus given by Luke contains marked differences from that
recorded by Matthew. Possibly some of these differences can be explained
and may be found of real significance.

1. First of all, the genealogy is found in a different part of the Gospel.
In Matthew it opens the story; in Luke it closes the third chapter. This
is of course by no mere chance. The purpose of Matthew is to prove that
Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, who, as the King of Israel, fulfills all
the Old Testament prophecies. It is of the utmost importance that Jesus
should be shown to be the Son of David and of Abraham and that the
official genealogy containing this record should open the story and even
precede the account of the nativity.

Luke, however, has given the significant account of the birth and infancy
and career of the great forerunner, John, because of the light these throw
upon the ministry of Christ. Therefore, when the career of John has been
related, when the ministry of Jesus is about to be recorded, Luke gives
his genealogy to emphasize the fact that the narrative concerning John has
clos