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Explaining the differences between Matthew's and Luke's genealogies has been a problem for many readers of the Gospels. Some Christian scholars have attempted to reconcile them: John Gill (theologian), for example, claimed that Matthew's gospel gives Jesus' legal lineage through Joseph while Luke gives Jesus' biological lineage through Mary . Howard W. Clarke, on the other hand, believes that the two accounts cannot be harmonized and are "theological" constructs. He has suggested that Matthew wants to underscore birth of a messianic child of royal lineage (mentioning Solomon) whereas Luke's genealogy is priestly (mentioning Levi). According to Scott Gregory Brown, however, the reason for the differences between the two genealogies is that Jesus' genealogy was not included in the written accounts that the writers of the two Gospels shared (i.e. Gospel of Mark and the Q Document). According to Stanton, the genealogy foreshadows acceptance of Gentiles into the Kingdom of God: in reference to Jesus as 'the Son of Abraham', the author has in mind the promise given to Abraham in Gen 22:18. Matthew holds that due to Israel's failure to produce the "fruits of the kingdom" and her rejection of Jesus, God's kingdom is now taken away from Israel and given to Gentiles. Another foreshadowing of the acceptance of Gentiles is the inclusion of four women in the genealogy, something unexpected to a first century reader. According to Stanton, women are probably representing non-Jews to a first century reader. According to Markus Bockmuehl et al, Matthew is mentioning this to prepare its reader for the apparent scandal surrounding Jesus' birth by emphasizing on the point that God's purpose is sometimes worked out in unorthodox and surprising ways. Mattew 1:1–6 and Luke 3:32–34 (in agreement)

Luke 3:23–31 David Nathan Mattatha Menna Melea Eliakim Jonam Joseph Judah Simeon Levi Matthat Jorim Eliezer Joshua Er Elmadam Cosam Addi Melki Neri Shealtiel Zerubbabel Rhesa Joanan Joda Josech Semein Mattathias Maath Naggae Esli Nahum Amos Mattathias Joseph Jannai Melchi Levi Matthat Heli Joseph Jesus

Matthew 1:7–16 David (Father) - Bathsheba (Mother) Solomon Rehoboam Abijah Asa Jehoshaphat Jehoram - - - Uzziah Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah Manasseh Amon Josiah - Jeconiah Shealtiel Zerubbabel Abiud Eliakim Azor Zadok Achim Eliud Eleazar Matthan Jacob Joseph Jesus

1 Chronicles 3:4–5,10–24 David (Father) - Bathsheba (Mother) Solomon, Nathan, etc. (1Chr 3:5) Rehoboam Abijah Asa Jehoshaphat Joram Ahaziah Joash Amaziah Azariah Jotham Ahaz Hezekiah Manasseh Amon Josiah Jehoikim Jeconiah Pedaiah, Shealtiel, etc. Zerubbabel (for Shealtiel Ezr 3:2 Neh 12:1 Hag 1:1) Hananiah Shechaniah Shemaiah Neariah Elioenai Hodaviah, etc.

Michelangelo's Jesse-David-Solomon. David is generally seen as the man on the left with Solomon the child behind him. Michelangelo's Josiah-Jechoniah-Sheatiel. Josiah is generally seen as the man on the right with Jechoniah being the child on his knee. The boy being held by the woman is intended as one of Jechoniah's brothers. Michaelangelo's Jacob - Joseph.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke give different accounts of Jesus' genealogy. Both trace his ancestors back to Abraham through King David but via different sons of King David: King Solomon and Nathan, respectively. Thus, the lines differ between David and Jesus's father Joseph. Since antiquity, scholars have disagreed about the significance of the two genealogies.
Matthew's genealogy involves Jesus's title "Christ", in the sense of an "anointed" king. It starts with Solomon and proceeds through the kings of Judah up to and including Jeconiah. A few of the Judean kings are left out, though. For instance; Azariah/Uzziah is given as the son of Jehoram/Joram thus skipping four generations. In Old Testament times, many records were also abridged. Thus Jesus is established as legal heir to the throne of Israel. At Jeconiah the line of kings was terminated due to Israel being conquered by Babylonians. The names continue with Jeconiah's son and his grandson Zerubbabel, who is a notable figure in the Book of Ezra. The names between Zerubbabel and Joseph do not appear anywhere in the Old Testament or other texts, with a couple of exceptions. At the conclusion, Jesus being identified as a new king is called "Christ".
Alternatively, Luke's genealogy descends through Nathan, who is an otherwise little-known son of King David, mentioned once in the Hebrew Bible, with only an indirect claim to the Davidic throne. Because each generation averages about 25 years, including children who are not firstborn, Luke's list of 40 generations between David and Joseph approximates a realistic one thousand years. By contrast, Matthew's list of 25 generations is too short and can only represent a "telescoped", schematized or otherwise interrupted line.
Luke's genealogy involves Jesus's title "son of God" in the sense of being a descendant of Adam who was created by God. Luke opens the genealogy with the heavenly voice at Jesus' baptism saying, "You are my son", and concludes it with the addition of earlier ancestors before Abraham back to Adam, who is called "son of God".