While Joseph gave Jesus the
legal right to the throne, Mary gave Jesus His
physical blood connection to David "according to the flesh" (Romans 1:3).
The main difference between their two lines is that Joseph descended from David's son King Solomon, while
Mary descended from David's son Nathan.
The Lineage Found in Luke 3
Most may conclude that the family tree in
Luke 3:23–38 records Mary's biological lineage. In ancient Hebrew culture, women's names were typically left out of official family trees, so her father
Heli is listed, and Mary's husband Joseph is mentioned as Heli's legal son (son-in-law) by marriage.
According to the text in Luke, Mary's line moves backward in history like this:
- Her Father: Heli
- Her Grandfather: Matthat
- Her Royal Ancestor: King David, specifically through his son Nathan (Luke 3:31)
- The Foundation: All the way back to Judah, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and ultimately to Adam.
- So Now Jesus has Two Title lines
- King And Priest