1. The Life of Christ Lesson 1
Luke’s Preface/Dedication & John’s Introduction – Luke 1:1-4; John 1:1-18
The Genealogy of Jesus - Matthew 1-17; Luke 3:23-38
Prophecy of Birth of John the Baptist – Luke 1:5-25
Annunciation of the birth of Jesus – Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth – Luke 1:39-56
Birth and early life of John the Baptist – Luke 1:57-80

2. The Genealogies Importance for fulfilled prophecy and promise
Genesis 3:15 – To Satan, Adam and Eve
Genesis 12:3; 17:19, 22:17-18 – Abraham and Sarah
Genesis 28:14 – Jacob
Genesis 49:10 – Judah (Micah 5:2)
Psalms 89:3; 2 Samuel 7:17 – David
Matthew 22:41-45; 21:9 – of the lineage of David
John 7:40

3. The Genealogies of Jesus
Matthew 1:1-17
42 generations (3 x 14) from Abraham to Joseph – forward
Abraham to David – Patriarchs
David to Babylonian captivity – Kings
Babylonian captivity to Jesus –
To establish Jesus right to rule on David’s throne … the royal line (2 Samuel 7:17; 1 Chronicles 22:7-10) giving the legal line of descent.
Included 5 women. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, Mary
Not every generation given
There are three possible solutions to this difficulty. First, the “offspring” of Jeconiah mentioned in the curse could be a limited reference to the king’s own children—his immediate offspring, in other words. On a related note, the phrase “in his lifetime” could apply to the entire verse. The curse would only be in force while the king lived. This is exactly what happened, as Jeconiah was not successful as a king (he only reigned for three months before he surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar’s forces), and none of his sons (he had seven of them, 1 Chronicles 3:17–18) reigned over Judah. A second solution concerns the virgin birth. Jesus only had one human parent, Mary. His mother was of David’s line, but not through Jeconiah (Luke 3:31). Joseph was Jesus’ legal father, but not His physical one. Thus, Jesus was of royal blood through Mary, but the curse of Jeconiah stopped with Joseph and was not passed on to Jesus. A third possible solution is that God reversed the curse on Jeconiah’s family. This is hinted at by the prophet Haggai, who told Zerubbabel, Jeconiah’s grandson, that God would make him a “signet ring” on God’s hand (Haggai 2:23). Zerubbabel was blessed by God as the governor of Judea, and he prospered in that role when the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem. The “signet ring” imagery of Jeconiah’s curse is repeated in Zerubbabel’s blessing, which must be more than coincidence. Several rabbinic sources teach that Jeconiah repented in Babylon and that God forgave him and lifted the curse.

4. The Genealogies of Jesus
Luke 3:23-38
76 generations - Mary to Adam – backward (1 Corinthians 15:45)
Both Son of God and Son of Man
Lists 57 names in same span as Matthew’s 42
Giving the natural line of descent.
Also of the lineage of David – note Luke 1:32
Joseph the son of Heli – In Matthew, Joseph’s father is Jacob (Matthew 1:16). Heli would have been Joseph’s father-in-law. It was common for a father who had no sons to consider his son-in- law as his own son. Legal parent – not genetic parent.
Note the context of Luke’s genealogy: Luke 3:21-22 as if to prove God’s declaration. (3:38)

5. The Genealogies of Jesus
Matthew’s genealogy shows the relationship of Jesus to all Jews – He is their Messiah whom they were waiting for.
Luke’s genealogy demonstrates the relationship of Jesus to all mankind as the Savior of the world.

7. The Genealogies of Jesus
There are three possible solutions to this difficulty. First, the “offspring” of Jeconiah mentioned in the curse could be a limited reference to the king’s own children—his immediate offspring, in other words. On a related note, the phrase “in his lifetime” could apply to the entire verse. The curse would only be in force while the king lived. This is exactly what happened, as Jeconiah was not successful as a king (he only reigned for three months before he surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar’s forces), and none of his sons (he had seven of them, 1 Chronicles 3:17–18) reigned over Judah. A second solution concerns the virgin birth. Jesus only had one human parent, Mary. His mother was of David’s line, but not through Jeconiah (Luke 3:31). Joseph was Jesus’ legal father, but not His physical one. Thus, Jesus was of royal blood through Mary, but the curse of Jeconiah stopped with Joseph and was not passed on to Jesus. A third possible solution is that God reversed the curse on Jeconiah’s family. This is hinted at by the prophet Haggai, who told Zerubbabel, Jeconiah’s grandson, that God would make him a “signet ring” on God’s hand (Haggai 2:23). Zerubbabel was blessed by God as the governor of Judea, and he prospered in that role when the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem. The “signet ring” imagery of Jeconiah’s curse is repeated in Zerubbabel’s blessing, which must be more than coincidence. Several rabbinic sources teach that Jeconiah repented in Babylon and that God forgave him and lifted the curse.

8. The Genealogies of Jesus
Remember …
1 Timothy 1:3-4, “As I urged you … instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.”

9. John’s Birth Foretold Luke 1:5-25
“In the days of Herod” – Herod the Great. Who is he?
Zecharias or Zechariah – means “Jehovah has remembered.”
Of the daily division/course of Abijah (24) – 1 Chronicles 24:1ff (verse 10)
Daily service (sacrifices, incense, etc.) in the temple – twice a year for 7 days.
Leaders of the divisions called “chief priests” who would lead the effort to crucify Jesus (Matthew 16:21; 26:3; 27:1)
Zecharias’ wife Elizabeth
From the daughters of Aaron – of priestly descent
This Herod is Herod I, better known as Herod the Great. He was the son of Antipater, an Idumaean (Edomite) politician who tried to gain control of Palestine as the Hasmonean line of Jewish rulers grew weak. He secured the governorship of Judea for his son Phasael and the governorship of Galilee for his son Herod (44-40 B.C.). With
the help of the Parthians, Antigonus, the last of the Hasmonean kings, deposed both sons. Phasael was imprisoned and Herod fled to Rome. There, Herod persuaded Octavian and Mark Antony to influence the Senate to elect him “King of the Jews.” It took three years of fighting to secure his throne. Antigonus was defeated, arrested,
and executed (Josephus, Antiquities, XIV). Herod went on to rule in Judea for 33 years (37 to 4 B.C.). His long tenure may be attributed to his loyalty to Rome. He supported
the ruling party or current Roman office holder but resisted personal attachment to any official. When Antony was overthrown in 31 B.C., Octavian did not penalize Herod for the loyalty he had given to Rome under Antony’s general oversight. Herod was hated by the Jews. He became king by a Roman decree and dislodged the Jewish Hasmonian successor. The Idumaeans had been forced to convert to Judaism by John Hyrcanus but they were still considered to be heathen Edomites. Further, although he divorced his Idumaean wife, Doris, and took the Hasmonean princess, Mariamne (granddaughter of Hyrcanus II), the Jews knew he had done it to strengthen his claim to the throne and resented him for it. Later he replaced Hananel, the High Priest, with his own son, Aristobulus. That too brought resentment from the Jews.

10. John’s Birth Foretold Luke 1:5-25 Zecharias & Elizabeth
“Righteous in the sight of God” – (Psalms 1:6; Genesis 7:1; Hebrews 11:4)
“Walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord” – (Philippians 3:6; Job 1:1; Philippians 2:15; Thessalonians 3:13; Psalms 18:31-32; 101:6; Acts 24:16; 2 Peter 3:14).
Remember 1 Corinthians 4:4.