Read Luke 3:23 – 38

THE RECORD OF JESUS’ ANCESTORS
Imagine the Savior of the world working in a small town carpenter’s shop until he was 30 years old! It seems incredible that Jesus would have been content to remain in Nazareth all that time, but He patiently trusted His Heavenly Father’s timing for His life and ministry. Thirty was the prescribed age for priests to begin their ministry. Age 30, then, was a good time to begin an important task in the Jewish culture. Like Jesus, we need to resist the temptation to jump ahead before receiving the Holy Spirit’s direction. Are you waiting and wondering what your next step should be? Don’t jump ahead – trust God’s timing.
Heli may have been Joseph’s father-in-law. If that were the case, this would be Mary’s genealogy that Luke may have received personally from her. It is fitting that Luke would show Mary’s genealogy because of the prominence he gives women in his gospel.
Matthew’s genealogy goes back to Abraham and shows that Jesus was related to all Jews. Luke’s genealogy goes back to Adam, showing that Jesus is related to all human beings. This is consistent with Luke’s picture of Jesus as Savior of the whole world.