Today we looked at the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:23–38, and while it might seem like one of those parts of Scripture to skip, it actually tells us something really powerful. I talked about the differences between Luke’s and Matthew’s genealogies—how Matthew traces Jesus’ line back to Abraham to show He’s the fulfillment of Jewish promises, while Luke goes all the way back to Adam to show that Jesus came for everyone, not just the Jewish people. That’s one of the beautiful things about the Gospel—Jesus is both the fulfillment of Israel’s hope and the Savior of the whole world. So, whether you connect more with the deep roots of tradition or the wide reach of grace, the takeaway is the same: Jesus came for you, for me, for all. And if He came for all of us, maybe we ought to live, love, and treat each other like that really matters.

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It’s good to be with you today on this great Wednesday as we continue our time together in Luke. I hope your week is going well. All is good here. I’ve got a good cup of coffee, and it’s not a thousand degrees outside just yet—life couldn’t be better.

Today, we’re going to read Luke chapter 3, verses 23 through 38—the genealogy of Jesus. And you’re probably thinking, “Oh no, genealogies!” because, let’s be honest, there’s an entire book of the Bible—Numbers—that’s basically one long genealogy. But genealogies are really important, especially in Jesus’ story. After we read Luke’s list, I want to talk about how it compares with Matthew’s and what each is trying to tell us about who Jesus is.

So, let’s read Luke 3:23–38:

Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph, son of Heli… [continues through] …son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

Now, a word of advice—if you’re ever asked to read scripture in church and the preacher assigns you this passage, you might want to ask for a trade! I actually read this from a different Bible than my usual Wesley Study Bible. That one tries to help by breaking down the pronunciation of the names, but honestly, it complicates it more for me. I’d rather just see them spelled out and go for it. A seminary professor once told me: “If you don’t know how to pronounce the names, just say them with confidence. People will believe you!”

So, what’s going on with Luke’s genealogy?

Let’s compare it to Matthew’s. Luke places his genealogy at the end of chapter 3; Matthew puts his right at the start of chapter 1. That’s significant. Remember: each Gospel presents Jesus from a slightly different perspective. Matthewwants to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament promises and prophecies. In Jewish tradition, genealogy is a big deal. It’s your identity. It’s how you prove who you are.

Think about what the Pharisees said:

“We are children of Abraham.”
That was their cry—it was their spiritual resume.

So, Matthew starts with:

“The genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
He works forward from Abraham to Jesus, and he even structures the genealogy into three sets of 14 generations to highlight key moments in Israel’s history.

Matthew is saying:

“Jesus is the fulfillment of the covenant. He’s the son of Abraham. He is the one who completes everything God began in the Old Testament.”

It’s kind of like that scene in the last Star Wars movie—when Rey says:

“I am all the Jedi.”
Matthew is positioning Jesus to say:
“I am all the Old Covenant. I am its fulfillment.”

But what does Luke do?

Luke starts with Jesus and works backward—not just to Abraham, but all the way to Adam. Why? Because Luke wants to show that Jesus didn’t just come to fulfill the Jewish law—he came to save the whole world.

If Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ Jewish identity, Luke emphasizes his universal mission. That’s why Luke’s Gospel is often described as “the gospel for the least, the last, and the lost.” It’s full of stories about Gentiles, outcasts, tax collectors, and sinners. Luke is showing us that Christ came for all people—not just for the religious elite or the chosen few, but for everyone.

So, the genealogy in Matthew says:

“Jesus is the fulfillment of Abraham’s covenant.”

While the genealogy in Luke says:

“Jesus is the Savior of the whole world, the Son of Adam, the Son of God.”

And here’s the thing—both are true.

We live in a world that loves to divide everything into either/or: this or that, black or white. But John Wesley always encouraged us to think in terms of both/and. Should we emphasize Jesus’ Jewishness or his mission to the whole world?
Yes. Both.

That’s why I personally love Matthew’s Gospel—I’m drawn to its deeply Jewish flavor. But Luke’s Gospel is just as beautiful because it reminds us that Jesus came for everyone—for anyone who will call on his name.

It’s like what C.S. Lewis said:

“You’ve never met a mere mortal.”
Every person you meet is made for eternity.

Wesley talked about the “alls” of God:

• All are made in the image of God.
• All are sinners.
• All can be saved.
• All can be saved to the uttermost.

Jesus Christ died for all of us.
So, if that’s true—if God loves everyone and Jesus came to save the world—shouldn’t that affect how we treat each other?

Shouldn’t that change how we speak about each other—even on Facebook?

Shouldn’t it soften our hearts in this polarized, angry world?

I’m preaching this Sunday on hospitality and love, and here’s the truth:
Sometimes, we should show the most hospitality to the people we disagree with the most. No one ever lost an argument and said, “You’re right! I’ll follow Jesus now.”
But people have come to know Jesus through love.
Through grace.
Through relationship.

We won’t change the world with snarky posts or angry debates. But we can change it by how we love people.
Why?
Because that’s what Jesus did.

He loved the world so much that he went to the cross and rose from the dead—for the whole world.

That’s why Luke takes us all the way back to Adam.
To remind us: Jesus came for everyone.

So yes—even genealogies have something to teach us.
Thanks for being with us today.
Tomorrow, we’ll pick up with the temptation of Jesus in Luke chapter 4.

See you then. Have a great day.