The "Christmas" genealogies

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ,

                            the son of David,

the son of Abraham.

Matthew 1:1

"Luke is recording Mary’s genealogy and
Matthew is recording Joseph’s.

Matthew is following the line of Joseph (Jesus’ legal father), through David’s son Solomon,

while Luke is following the line of Mary (Jesus’ blood relative), though David’s son Nathan.

Since there was no Greek word for “son-in-law,” Joseph was called the “son of Heli” by marriage to Mary, Heli’s daughter. Through either Mary’s or Joseph’s line, Jesus is a descendant of David and therefore eligible to be the Messiah. Tracing a genealogy through the mother’s side is unusual, but so was the virgin birth." GotQuestions


"Therefore, one genealogy might be of Mary and the other of Joseph--even though both mention Joseph. In other words, the Mary geneaology was counted "in" Joseph and under his headship.

Notice that Luke starts with Mary and goes backwards to Adam.

Matthew starts with Abraham and goes forward to Joseph.

The intents of the genealogies were obviously different which is clearly seen in their styles.

Luke was not written to the Jews but Matthew was.

Therefore, Matthew would carry the legal line (from Abraham through David) and Luke the biological one (from Adam through David). Also, notice that Luke's first three chapters mention Mary eleven times, hence, the genealogy from her. Fourth, notice Luke 3:23, "And when He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being supposedly the son of Joseph, the son of Eli." This designation "supposedly" seems to signify the Marian genealogy since it seems to indicate that Jesus is not the biological son of Joseph." CARM

From Luke (the Gentile writing):

supposedly of Joseph (Mary)

JESUS

From Matthew (the Jewish writing):

Joseph Adopted Jesus
as his own son giving him
all legal rights involving heirship.