Was the lineage of Jesus accurately prophesied in the Old Testament?

by Joel Hendon⁽¹⁷⁰⁾ Red Star

A skeptic questioned the authenticity of Jesus being scripturally qualified to be the Messiah and offered the following three arguments against it.

“The Messiah must be from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10). Under Jewish law, tribal affiliation is conferred through the birth father only (Numbers 1:18-44,34:14,Leviticus 24:10) (Criterion for being the Messiah is not met – in Christianity, Jesus has no human father – therefore he had no tribal affiliation. Jesus not being from the tribe of Judah is eliminated from messianic consideration).”

“The Messiah must be from the House of David (Jeremiah 33:17-20,1 Chronicles 17:11-12). This affiliation is conferred through the father and Matthew 1 and Luke 3 attempt to trace Jesus’ lineage through Joseph back to King David. However, according to the Gospels “the holy spirit” not Joseph was Jesus’ father (Matthew 1:18). Tribal and family affiliations of this type can not be claimed by adoption (Numbers 1:18-44,34:14; Leviticus 24:10) and at any rate there is no indication in the Christian scriptures that Joseph ever adopted Jesus under Jewish law (Criterion not met – Jesus eliminated from messianic consideration).”

“The Messiah must be from the seed of Solomon (2 Samuel 7:12-16,Psalms 89:29-38,1 Chronicles 17:11-14,22:9-10,28:6-7). Matthew indeed claims that Jesus was descended through Solomon. However, Luke claimed that Jesus descended through Nathan, David’s other son (who was not king). This eliminates Jesus’ genealogy through Luke. The problem with the claim that Luke’s genealogy is actually that of Mary is that Mary is not mentioned in Luke’s genealogy. Even if it was the genealogy of Mary this is meaningless as Jewish law only recognizes tribal affiliation through the father (Numbers 1:18).”

(1) It is a truth that it was the Jewish tradition to ascertain tribal affiliation through the father. However, since Jesus was prophesied to be born of a virgin, and was so indeed, he had no earthly father to use. So certainly since He was literally the Son of God, His lineage had to begin with His mother, Mary. If he was to be “God with us”, a divine being, He had to be the Son of God. This divinity supersedes Jewish customs or traditions.

(2) Luke chapter three, gives Jesus lineage through His Mother showing that he actually was from the tribe of Judah and of David’s seed.

(3) The references in the third argument have no mention of Jesus, but are referring to Solomon Where any reference to Jesus lineage through the son of David, it has reference to David’s other son, Nathan, through which Jesus was indeed born.

In Matthew’s (chapter 1) version, he does trace the lineage through Solomon and to Jesus’ step father, Joseph. Matthew being a Jew himself gave us the lineage this way. But Luke was a Greek and gave us the literal and accurate lineage to Jesus.

There is no question of Jesus qualifications to be the promised messiah. His virgin birth, His sin-free life, His death burial and resurrection, leaves no room for doubt.

Article submitted Saturday, October 09, 2010 & read 18 times.

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» left by Joel Kontinen from Finland (1 year 210 days ago.)

Nice article. I agree with your conclusions.

» left by Anonymous (1 year 210 days ago.)

Thanks Joel, I appreciate your kind comment.

» left by teresa oriz (1 year 210 days ago.)

Very well done. It is sad the lengths that people will go to deny what I believe they know deep in their hearts to be true.

Blessings dear friend.

» left by Joel Hendon⁽¹⁷⁰⁾ (1 year 210 days ago.)

Hi Teresa, I've ben wondering where you were. I do appreciate your comment. But you are correct, some who question the existence of God will go to any length, even lying or anything else in an effort to try and draw attention away from Him. By the way, I have to say this :o> Your last name is spelled Ortiz. Don't worry about it though, I'm sure you will learn.

I turned 80 last month so life is surely getting short for me. An I am now anticipating it with yearning. I used to would have been petrified.

God bless you and yours, continue to study God's word and meditate upon it when you walk in the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.

Joel

A note to Joel Kontinen above. That was me that responded, I have no idea who anonymous might be.

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