All the Way Back: The Very Beginning of the Genealogy

The Importance of a Genealogy, Part 3

Outside of the “why is this genealogy even here” question, the most frequently asked question—well, at least to me, anyway—is why there is a different starting point for the genealogy of Jesus across the gospel accounts.

If you don’t know what I mean, you will notice that Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ family line beginning with Abraham, the father of the Jewish people. Luke, however, takes it back even further. Luke goes past David. Past Abraham. All the way back to Adam!

There has to be a reason, right? Come on. This is the Bible. Of course there is!

Two Genealogies

Now, don’t get me wrong here—Matthew and Luke certainly have similarities in their genealogies. It’s not like they are entirely different. That said, they are similar, but not identical. This is not a mistake. Simply put, each writer is doing something different.

Matthew wants to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Israel. So he highlights Abraham and David. His audience is primarily Jewish. He structures his list in three sets of fourteen. It’s clean. It’s symmetrical. It’s brilliant.

Luke is doing something else. He traces the line through a different son of David (Nathan instead of Solomon), and he places the genealogy in a totally different spot. It’s not at the beginning of his Gospel. It’s in chapter 3. Right after Jesus’ baptism. Right before the wilderness.

He’s showing us who Jesus is—and what kind of kingdom he’s bringing.

[[ For what it’s worth, Luke isn’t just giving us background. He’s giving us theology. ]]

The Son of… God?

Luke’s genealogy starts with Jesus and works backwards. After tracing all the way through Abraham and Noah, he ends like this in Luke 3:38 (ESV), “...the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

Wait! What! Adam, the son of God?

Not in the divine, eternal second person of the Trinity way, but in the “created by God” sense. Adam, fashioned from the dust, brought to life by the breath of God.

Why does Luke go here? He wants us to see Jesus not only as the fulfillment of Israel’s story, but as the new beginning of humanity’s story. If Adam was the start of creation (in a general sense), Jesus is the start of new creation. If Adam’s choice brought death, Jesus’ obedience brings life. This genealogy is a theological hyperlink, in a sense. It ties Jesus to every human being, not just to Israel.

That’s good news for, well, all of us.

Right After the Baptism!

It is important that we don’t miss the timing of Luke’s genealogy, as well! He puts this genealogy right after Jesus’ baptism. That’s when a voice from heaven declares in Luke 3:22 (ESV), “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

It just so happens that this occurs right before Jesus is tempted in the wilderness. Remember, Satan’s temptation begins with, “If you are the Son of God…” in Luke 4:3 (ESV).

All that to say, the genealogy becomes this theological hinge of sorts. The voice of God recognizes Jesus as the Son, while the devil is doing what he can to make him doubt it (echo of the Garden of Eden, anyone?).

Essentially, part of what Luke is showing us is that Jesus is, in fact, exactly who he says he is.

This is the Son of Adam, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, the Son of God.

You get it.

A Universal Gospel

The significance of Luke tracing Jesus back to Adam cannot be overstated. Matthew helps us see that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, while Luke shows us that Jesus is also the Savior of the world.

Matthew is beautiful, and Luke is bold. He’s telling Gentiles that this isn’t someone else’s story—it is theirs, too! He’s saying Jesus didn’t just come for a people. He came for all people.

The genealogy, then, is the evidence.

[[ For what it’s worth, this is why the early church never saw the Gospel as a regional message. It’s a cosmic one. Global. Eternal. Unstoppable. ]]

The New Adam

Paul also picks up on this theme and draws a direct line between Adam and Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:22 (ESV) says, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive,” and goes on to say in verse 45 that, “The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”

In other words, this isn’t just some random theology. It’s rooted in the genealogies!

Jesus is the New Adam. He resists temptation. He chooses obedience. He brings life where there was death. He doesn’t fall in the garden. He prays in one.

The genealogy of Luke tells us that the story is being redeemed, and therefore, the ending is much brighter than we may have thought!

So Why Does This Matter?

The short of the long is… because you’re in the story!

This isn’t just about bloodlines. It’s also about belonging. Jesus didn’t just step into one family line. He stepped into all of humanity, bringing redemption with him.

That means no matter your family tree—no matter what’s behind you—there’s room in the line for you. Jesus came to redeem the story for everyone. Even you!

Hopefully, That Made Sense

Genealogies aren’t just lists. They’re sermons. Luke’s genealogy might seem like a detour. It’s not. It’s a declaration.

Thus, Jesus is not only Israel’s Messiah, but he is the Redeemer of the entire world. The New Adam, the True Son, and the One who starts it all over again.

Until next time,
Petey