From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]jt: There is a genealogy in Matthew also but we already know that Jesus is the foster son of Joseph because Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and the holy child born of her is the son of the Most High. Jesus is a legal heir to the throne of David through Joseph who is of the kingly line; and even though a foster son, he is the first born into the family.
Much of what you say below, Judy is good. However, blood line does seem to be important. Luke is the one who gives us the lineage of Christ back to Adam, not Bill. (Luke chapter 3). JD
Maybe someone can help me here but as I remember, Matthew goes through Joseph and Luke actually goes through Mary (?) I am not sure of your point above, however. One of the most powerful sermon illustrations I have ever heard was the reading of geneology of the gospel of Luke. In the Matthew text, Christ is tied to Abraham. In Luke, Christ is "..the son of Enoch, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, THE SON OF GOD" (Lu 3"38) and, so, again, blood line is a critical issue to the biblical writer.
