Q: Do the two New Testament versions of the genealogy in Matthew and Luke contradict each other?
A: The two genealogies of Jesus do not contradict each other. For something to be a contradiction, by definition, there cannot be any possible reconciliation. Several viable explanations are possible, such as this one suggested by the well known Theologian Gleason L. Archer:
Matthew 1:1-16 gives the genealogy of Jesus through Joseph, who was himself, a descendant of King David. As Joseph’s adopted Son, Jesus became his legal heir, so far as his inheritance was concerned.
Luke 3:23-28, on the other hand, seems to record the genealogical line of Mary herself. This seems to be implied by the wording of v. 23: “Jesus . . . being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph?” Jesus was not really the biological son of Joseph. Mary must of necessity have been the sole human parent through whom Jesus could have descended from a line of ancestors being his natural mother through birth. Her genealogy is thereupon listed, starting with Hell, who was actually Joseph’s father-in-law, in contradistinction to Joseph’s own father, Jacob (Matt. 1:16.... Therefore Jesus was descended from David naturally through Nathan and legally through Solomon.
Q: What is the point of trying to prove that Jesus descended from King David (Matthew 1:1) by giving the genealogy of Joseph who was not his father?
A: Because an adopted Son is the heir of his legal rights to the throne of David.
Q: In Matthew 16:27-28 Jesus says: "For the son of man shall come in the glory of his father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom." (See also Mark 9:1) Did Jesus Lie?
A: Many try to discredit the words of Jesus. Did Jesus lie when he said “some of them that stand here will not taste death, til they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” This, though is one of those scriptures that answers itself. Verse 28 ends the text then picks up in Matthew 17:1.
Simple Jesus wasn’t talking about the Kingdom as the Jews have it. The words, "some of them that stand here, shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power" refer to the transfiguration. In all three Gospels recording the promise, the transfiguration narrative immediately follows.
Also Peter refers to the transfiguration in his Epistle in such a way as to make the case conclusive: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount." (2 Peter 1:16-18)
Q: Can you fit in between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning three days and three nights? Here they give Matthew 12:38-40; "There shall no sign be given than the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
A: To understand the discussion in this area, one must have an understanding of how time was reckoned in the ancient Jewish world. The first thing one must understand is that Jews did not begin the reckoning of the day at midnight, like we do, but at the previous sundown. Thus Sunday, the first day of the week, would actually begin on what we would today call sundown on Saturday. One must keep this in mind to understand the discussion. One must also understand another factor in the ancient Jewish reckoning of time, namely, the fact that any portion of a day was referred to as a day. (This is a parallel for the fact, crucial to determining the years during which the biblical kings reigned, that any portion of a year was referred to as a year) Thus Jesus' resurrection on Sunday (Saturday evening) counts as one day, while Saturday day and Friday evening counts as a second day, and Friday day (Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion and burial) counts as the third day.
Some may scruple at the fact that, while the accounts for three days, it does not on the surface account for the "three nights" Matthew 12:40 refers to since Jesus would have only lain in the tomb Friday night and Saturday night (two nights). There is a very simple explanation:
The expression "three days and three nights" is simply a slightly hyperbolic way of referring to "three days." As Bible scholar R. T. France notes:
Similarly, D. A. Carson, regarded as one of the deans of conservative Protestant Bible exegesis, notes:
One last thing all scripture had to be fulfilled including this one: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Psalm 16:10) Corruption sets in the body in 72 hours. Sometime before that he must come forth from the grave.
Q: Why does Matthew give 14 as the number of genealogy from David to the Babylonian Exile and Chronicles list 18?
A: Matthew 1:8 tells us that Joram fathered Uzziah. However, in 1st Chronicles 3:11-12 we find that Joram fathered Ahaziah, who fathered Joash, who fathered Amaziah, who begot Uzziah who was also called Azariah. To see that Uzziah was also called Azariah compare 2nd Kings 14:21-22 with 2nd Chronicles 26:1-2.
Matthew knew most of his readers would know Joram was the great, great grandfather of Uzziah.
Matthew 1:11 says that Josiah was Jeconiah's father. However, 1st Chronicles 3:15-16 tells us that Josiah fathered Jehoiakim, who begot Jeconiah. Matthew's original Jewish readers understood that Jeconiah was descended from Josiah.
Why did Matthew leave these various ancestors out of his record? Matthew wanted a genealogy record that was symmetrical. He wanted it divided into 3 groups with 14 generations in each group. So following an understood and accepted custom Matthew left out various ancestors of Jesus.
In Matthew 1:1 we easily see that Jesus was the son of, that is a, descendant of David, and Abraham.
Zilpah herself physically give birth to Just two, Gad and Asher. Genesis 30:9-13.
However, Zilpah bore to Jacob: sixteen descendants. Genesis 46:16-18.
Canaan, Noah's grandson, begot several nations according to Genesis 10:15-18. Naturally Canaan begot the ancestors from whom these nations eventually came.
In summary:
Matthew 1:8. = Joram fathered Uzziah. HOWEVER: I Chronicles 3:11-12 = Joram fathered Ahaziah who fathered Joash who fathered Amaziah who fathered Uzziah also called Azariah. Descendents Matthew left out = (Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah) Uzziah (Azariah) 2 Kg 14:21-22. 2 Chr 26:1-2.
Matthew 1:11. = Josiah fathered Jeconiah.
HOWEVER: 1st Chronicles 3:15-16 = Josiah fathered Jehoiakim who fathered Jeconiah. Descendent Matthew left out = (Jehoiakim) Genesis 46:18 = Zilpah bore 16 people.
HOWEVER: Genesis 30:9-13 Zilpah actually only bore 2 people. Gad & Asher. She bore the rest through Gad and Asher. So there is scriptural precedent in this type of genealogy. God wanted to show the perfection of his plan in Matthew giving 3 sets of 14.
Paul an apostle with a prophetic ministry who performed signs, and wonders, and many miracles told us not to worry about it. “But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and vain." Titus 3:9. God has his reasons for demonstrating it that way.
Q: Was the book of Matthew inspired?
A: There can be no doubt that Matthew is inspired. The history of Christ’s birth is given in Matthew 1:18-25. In this seven-verse section God has placed an astonishing number of sevens that verify who the author is. God is revealed in three’s and perfected in 7’s. He rested on the seventh day, there are 7 seals, 7 thunders, 7 church ages, 7 angels, 7 spirits, 7 vials, etc. The number 7 speaks of God’s perfected plan.
Astonishing!
Q: Acts 7:14; "Then send Joseph and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls." Now look what the Holy book of Genesis says about this event. Genesis 46:27; "All the souls of the house of Jacob that came into Egypt were threescore and ten souls." So the Torah says that 70 people of Jacobs household left for Egypt, and Stephen says 75. How can this be?
A: Here Stephen quotes the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Torah) of Genesis 46:20 where Machir, Gilead, Sutelaam, Taham, and Eden, who were sons of Manasseh and Ephraim are listed, making 75 souls. In Genesis 46:27 And Deuteronomy 10:22 there are 70 without the 5 sons of Manasseh and Ephraim.
Q: Was Jesus born of a Virgin? The Hebrew word in Isaiah 7:14 that the king James translation translates as virgin is almah. In Hebrew almah means girl, young woman, that can be, or not, a virgin. Therefore is the word virgin in Isaiah 7:14 a wrong translation?
A: The answer to this seems pretty obvious to me I don’t know how one can miss it. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Sure the Hebrew word “almah” means a young girl who may or may not be a virgin. BUT, the scripture says this is a sign. Now teenage girls give birth all the time, that’s not a sign. It doesn’t make sense, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a young girl shall conceive and bear a son…”. Hmmm, that happens everyday. But a virgin conceiving, now that’s a Sign! Also the scripture says he shall be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” He was GOD! He is called Immanuel cause God was in him!
Q: Are believers in “the Message” guilty of “following a man?”
Paul said, “follow me as I follow Christ” (I Cor. 11:1) In this sense there is nothing wrong with “following a man.” It should be noted that everyone is following someone’s teaching.
Usually the person who asks this question is from a denomination. All denominations are following someone’s teaching. We are called Branhamites, though that is not a fair statement, since every Church in the message is independent and not bound by a denominational charter and the Pastor may decide what is taught in the church answering only to the Holy Ghost.
On the other hand, Church of Christ members are called “Campbellites” as they follow the teaching of Alexander Campbell. Lutherans are following the teaching of Martin Luther, Methodists also called “Wesleyans” are following the teaching of John Wesley (though it must be said the modern Methodist church is far off from his teachings of Holiness). Nazarenes are following the teaching’s of Phineas Bresee the founder of their denomination. Even the Pentecostal denominations have General Councils where a group of men decide the charter of their denomination, and restrict what may or may not be taught. Let a Pastor receive something fresh from heaven and he is restricted from bringing it to the people because of their charter, and if he goes against it he can be excommunicated.
The reality is we are free to follow the teaching of the Bible as lead by the Holy Ghost and are free of the influence of man made dogmas and creeds of groups of men.
This is why Brothers can vary on certain non essential doctrines, because they are free. There is no restriction placed on how their church order, conduct and doctrine may be run. It is up to the Pastor, he is the Sheppard and over-seer of the local body. We believe the apostle Paul set the church in order, and we follow the Word wherever doctrine is taught in scripture. This is why we do not accept women preachers Paul said “I suffer not a women to teach nor to usurp authority over a man.” All “message” churches universally hold to the Bible as the Final Authority not the ideas of man. What the Bible teaches is our doctrine: for example, the doctrines of Repentance from dead works, Faith towards God, doctrine of Baptisms, praying for the sick, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment as laid out in the scripture in Hebrews 6. On matters of the meaning of various quotes by Brother Branham, the Brothers can differ greatly because we are not bound by denominationalism. The main thing to remember is Brother Branham always pointed to the Word as our Final Authority no matter what any man says. Amen.
For Questions on the deity of Christ and the Godhead Click Here!