The Lineage of the King
How Two Genealogies Confirm Jesus as the Son of David
A Prophetic Blueprint
The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would descend from King David. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke each present a unique genealogy for Jesus, which at first seem different, but together they form a complete and perfect picture of His heritage. This infographic explores how these two paths converge to fulfill ancient prophecy in a way no one could have predicted.
Matthew’s Royal Lineage
Matthew’s account traces Jesus’ legal right to the throne. It follows the line of kings from David through his son Solomon, establishing Joseph as the legal father and heir.
(Matthew 1:1-16)
Luke’s Physical Lineage
Luke’s account traces Jesus’ physical bloodline. It follows a different path from David through his son Nathan, establishing Mary as a direct biological descendant.
(Luke 3:23-38)
Visualizing the Combined Lineage
This chart illustrates the two paths from King David to Jesus, showing how the lines of Solomon (Matthew) and Nathan (Luke) diverge and ultimately converge through Joseph and Mary.
A Tale of Two Sons
After King David, the two genealogies diverge, following two of his sons. Matthew follows the famous royal line of Solomon, while Luke follows the less prominent line of Nathan. Here is a breakdown of the key distinctions between the two accounts:
Matthew’s Account
- Focus: Royal Succession & Legal Right
- Lineage from David: Through King Solomon
- Generations from David: 27
- Key Figure: Joseph, the legal father
- Scripture: Matthew 1:1-16
Luke’s Account
- Focus: Human Ancestry & Physical Bloodline
- Lineage from David: Through Nathan
- Generations from David: 42
- Key Figure: Mary, the mother
- Scripture: Luke 3:23-38
Solving the Prophetic Puzzle
Why were two separate lineages necessary? The answer lies in a specific curse and the miracle of the virgin birth. This illustration shows how God’s plan perfectly navigated a prophetic roadblock to deliver the promised King.
The Prophecy: A Royal Heir
The Messiah must be a descendant of David with the legal right to the throne. (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
The Problem: The Cursed Royal Line
King Jeconiah’s line was cursed, blocking any biological descendant from the throne. (Jeremiah 22:30)
The Solution: The Virgin Birth
A divine path that bypasses the curse. (Isaiah 7:14)
Legal Right
Through Joseph, Jesus inherits the royal claim without the curse.
Physical Bloodline
Through Mary, Jesus inherits the direct, uncursed lineage of David.
The Perfect King
Jesus Christ, with an undeniable legal AND biological claim to the throne of David.
A Perfect Claim
Joseph and Mary were the only two people who could fulfill these intricate requirements. Through them, Jesus possesses both the legal and biological claim to David’s throne. These two crucial components form his complete and undeniable heritage as the promised King:
The Legal Right
Provided by Joseph. As Jesus’ legal father and a descendant of the royal line, Joseph passed on the official, kingly claim to the throne of David, fulfilling the legal requirement for the Messiah.
The Physical Bloodline
Provided by Mary. As his biological mother and a direct descendant of David, Mary provided the physical, uncursed bloodline, fulfilling the prophecy of a literal “son of David.”