Luke was a physician, who was widely traveled and well placed in society. He was probably a doctor who traveled in the ships. He knew many well placed aristocrats as is indicated in his addressing of the gospel and the book "Acts of the Apostles" to the most excellent Theophilos. Theophilos mentioned here is considered to be Titus Flavious of Clement of Rome who was a cousin of Emperor Domitian who ruled from AD 95 onwards. Falvious was the Roman Consul and was later martyred along with his wife Domitilla for being Christians. It can therefore be deducted that he had very high connections. We have no records to show that he ever met Jesus while Jesus was alive. He was probably a Jew in dispersion and was a free man of great wealth.

Luke had a scientific outlook, which is to be expected from a physician. He has written his books after serious research into the events as he claims in his introduction

Luke 1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

Luke 1:3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

He had known and read all the existing documents on the life of Jesus which were written by people who had seen and heard and lived with Jesus. Luke accordingly may not be considered as an eyewitness. But he had taken the pains to do extensive research in the life of Jesus before embarking upon the venture. The gospel itself clearly exemplifies this claim. Many of the personal stories of Mary, Joseph, disciples, women and other gentile people are given in greater depth and detail in Luke.

Why did Luke take up the writing, since there were an abundance of such documents. The reason is also given in the introduction so that you may know the certainty of things you have been taught." Earlier documents were written by eyewitnesses as personal anecdotes and memoirs and were not comprehensive enough to be presented as a gospel to the gentile world. Others were all personal documents and were written essentially by the Jews and for the Jews. Luke was writing to the gentiles who did not understand the Jewish traditions and customs. Legalism of the Jews and the custom of counting the lineage by legal right whether by levirate marriage or by kinsman-redeemer marriage or even ghost marriage was not understood by outsiders. Hence it is natural for him to adopt the blood relation as the basis of tracing the lineage.

3. 1 ADAM TO ABRAHAM

In tracing the lineage, he traces the lineage back to Adam and to God.

Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

Luke 3:35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

Luke 3:36 the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Luke 3:37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,

Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Notice that Adam was the son of God. It is this right that Adam lost when he fell from grace. Jesus came to redeem Adamic race to its original grace and glory. The blood that runs, runs right through Adam to Abraham in accordance with the Old Testament patriarchal line.

 1 Chr 1:1 Adam, Seth, Enosh,

1 Chr 1:2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chr 1:3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.

1 Chr 1:4 The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

1 Chr 1:24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,

1 Chr 1:25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,

1 Chr 1:26 Serug, Nahor, Terah

1 Chr 1:27 and Abram (that is, Abraham).

We notice that one name is missing in the Old Testament series which is found in Luke’s genealogy.

Cainan is the son of Arphaxad and Shelah is the son of Cainan according to Luke; while in the Chronicle this name is not found. However in Hebrew traditional lineage this name can be found. It is found in the Septuagint Version. Why was this name not in our Bible and found in Septuagint and tradition. Again we have to look back into Hebrew tradition. If a person died when they are very young before they have a chance to establish a name for himself, the child born to them will be known as the child of the living grandfather. This practice is echoed in the book of Ruth where Ruth’s son Obed is referred to as the son of Naomi. Ruth 14:7. If the son of Arphaxad, Cainan died very young after begetting Shelah, the Jews would refer him as the son of Arphaxad and not as the son of Cainan. Cainan will not be practically referred to in any legal documents, since he died before he established himself and legally took possession of the properties and rights as a son. But this will not be acceptable to the gentile world where actual parenthood is always counted. Thus it is interesting that Luke brings his name into the line.

3.2 ABRAHAM TO DAVID

David,

Luke 3:32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

Luke 3:33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

Luke 3:34 the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham.

Mat 1:1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Mat 1:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Mat 1:3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

Mat 1:4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Mat 1:5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

Mat 1:6 and Jesse the father of King David.

Here both Matthew’s lineage coincides with that of Luke’s.

3.3 DAVID TO JESUS

3.3.1 Matthew’s Royal Line

However the line branches off after David. Matthew traces the royal line through Solomon to Joseph. Joseph is the legal heir to the throne of David and as the legal son according to levirate or ghost marriage custom Jesus is the King of the Jews. Thus when Jesus claimed that he is the King of the Jews he was the rightful King in the line of David. Since Jesus is still alive Jesus is the rightful KING OF THE JEWS.

Through believing in Jesus so are the believers.

John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

John 1:13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood

So the declaration of the wisemen were exactly right.

Mat 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

Mat 2:2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Mat 2:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Mat 27:11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

Mat 27:28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,

Mat 27:29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.

Mat 27:37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Here is the rightful line of David.

Mat 1:6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,

Mat 1:7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

Mat 1:8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

Mat 1:9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

Mat 1:10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,

Mat 1:11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

Mat 1:12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Mat 1:13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,

Mat 1:14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud,

Mat 1:15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

Mat 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

3.3.2 Luke’s Blood Line

Luke on the other hand traces the blood line through another son of David viz. Nathan. while Solomon was the heir to the throne, Nathan was the spiritual heir to David.

2 Sam 5:13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

2 Sam 5:14 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

1 Chr 3:5 and these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel.

Luke goes on to trace this line until captivity to Neri thus in backwards:

Neri,

Luke 3:28 the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

Luke 3:29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

Luke 3:30 the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

Luke 3:31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

There is no problem in this line.

3.4 Period of Captivity

As we come to captivity, the social conditions were in turmoil as far as the jewish people were concerned. Judah was taken into captivity by the Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezer. The temple was destoyed and its bronze and silver and gold were taken away. Its royalty were made captive and taken as slaves. King Jeconiah was put in prison. Many were put to death and only the poor remained in the land.

2 Ki 24:13 As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar removed all the treasures from the temple of the LORD and from the royal palace, and took away all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made for the temple of the LORD.

2 Ki 24:14 He carried into exile all Jerusalem: all the officers and fighting men, and all the craftsmen and artisans--a total of ten thousand. Only the poorest people of the land were left.

The story of Judah restarts in Babylonian country side, among the prison cells and among the slave dwellings. The Jews clung to their great traditions and struggled to maintain the heritage and family names. As a result they had to resort to levirate customs, kinsman redeemer customs and to Zelophahad customs (We shall deal with these as it comes) . Without these it was impossible to continue the family unbroken. There were few men left with vast number of women who were mostly widows or seperated from husbands. It is with this in mind that we should approcah the lineage problems and we will see how beautifully it will fall in place.

Here is the structure as it appears in Luke:

Luke 3:23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,

Luke 3:24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Luke 3:25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

Luke 3:26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

Luke 3:27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri.

Here is how it appears in Matthew:

Mat 1:11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

Mat 1:12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Mat 1:13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,

Mat 1:14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud,

Mat 1:15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,

Mat 1:16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

3.4.1 Jeconiah, Neri and Shaelthiel

Matthew gives the name of Shealthiel as the son of Jeconiah while Luke gives the name as Neri. Both give the name of Zerubabel as the son of Shealthiel. So we cannot put them as two distinct Shealthiels and Zerubabel. That will be pushing the matter too much However the problem is solved with the assumption of levirate custom.

Jeconiah was carried away as a prisoner and his queen was also taken as captive. But it is unlikely that she was put in prison with the King. Women were never considered important enough to be put in prison and that would have been considered improper Babylonian culture. It is therefore normal to expect her to follow the levirate custom as the King was in the babylonian prison and unable to procreate and keep his name in the tribe. There was no knowing whether he would ever come out of the prison alive. But he did after 37 years. I would plaace him at 55 years old when he was released. So it is quite reasonable to assume that Neri took the Queen and begat children for Jeconiah. Neri was of the same tribe and family of David and therefore the Kinsman of Jeconiah.

3.4.2 Shealthiel, Pediah and Zerubabel

However the problem does not end there. 1 Chronicle gives the house of David as folows:

1 Chr 3:17 The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive: Shealtiel his son,

1 Chr 3:18 Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama and Nedabiah.

1 Chr 3:19 The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister.

1 Chr 3:20 There were also five others: Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah and Jushab-Hesed.

The family according to this list is as follows

Jeconiah- Pediah-Zerubabel-

Accordingly Shealthiel did not have a son called Zerubabel. Zerubabel was the son of Pediah one of Shealthiel’s brother named Pediah.

But the names of Abiud and Rhesa are not there. Here again the same situation exists. While both Matthew and Luke puts Shealthiel as the father of Zerubabel, Chronicler puts Pediah as the father of Zerubabel. Pediah is one of the brothers of Shealthiel. The conclusion is very clear. Pediah died without children probably very early and Shealthiel his brother went into his wife to provide children for him. Thus chronicler, being a legal man follows the Pediah line (legal son), while Zerubabel was actually the son of Shealthiel. Luke following the blood line follws Zerubabel to Shealthiel. Matthew following the Royal line also accepts Shealthiel because Shealthiel as the older brother (first born) was the legal heir to the throne of David. Prince Shealthiel was a towering figure in the period of captivity and Shealthiel the next in line who became the governor of Judah and was universally accepted as the son of Shealthiel. For references to Shealthiel (also called Salathiel) please read 1 Chr. 3:17; Ezra 3:2,8; Neh. 12:11 ; Hag. 1:1,12,14; 2:2,23.

for references to Zerubbabel (also called Sheshbazzar by the Babylonians with alias Zorobabel) please read Ezra 1-5; Hag. 1:12-14; Neh 12

The missing names are not much of a problem because in those days people had several names and these names must have been aliases of the children of Zerubabel. Abiud and Rhesa must have been for all practical reasons the two sons from among the five. These names however does not appear as such anywhere else and we have therefore no way of confirming the assuption.

3.4.3 The Zelophehad custom: Joseph, Heli and Mary

Again when we reach the pinnacle of the tree, Luke claims that Joseph is the son of Heli while Matthew puts Joseph as the son of Jacob. Here we have to call for another adoption custom which are widely practiced all over the world. In this custom if a family had no male offspring to provide a lineage, one of the husbands of the girls may be adopted to the heir of the family. They will then be legal heir to the family titles. Mary being the only daughter of Heli, had adopted Jospeh according to the law of Zelophahad. this mode of marriage is confirmed by God during the division of Palestine by Moses.

Num 27:1 The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They approached

Num 27:2 the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly, and said,

Num 27:3 "Our father died in the desert. He was not among Korah's followers, who banded together against the LORD, but he died for his own sin and left no sons.

Num 27:4 Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives."

Num 27:5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD

Num 27:6 and the LORD said to him,

Num 27:7 "What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives and turn their father's inheritance over to them.

Num 27:8 "Say to the Israelites, 'If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter.

Num 36:6 This is what the LORD commands for Zelophehad's daughters: They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within the tribal clan of their father.

Joseph being the family of Judah and of David was therefore adopted in accordance with the law. Hence though Heli was the father of Mary, Joseph the son of Jacob became the son of Heli by adoption.
 

The confirmation of the fact that Heli was indeed the father of Mary comes from the Jerusalem Talmud  Haggigah, Book 77, 4.
( Theodore Vance points out that 'The reference in Neusner is Hagigah 2:2, V. L., where V is a roman number. Apparently Godet cites it as Chagig. 77.4. Strack and Billerbeck in their rabbinic commentary on the gospels, on Luke 3:23 calls it "pChag 2,77d, 50."
The context is not about the Lord Jesus and his family, though it may be a snide reference out of context thereto.
Neusner says: "R. Eliezer bar Yose said that he saw Miriam, the daughter of 'LY BSLYM [Jastrow -- the leek like sprouts of onions], hanging by the nipples of her breasts. R. Yose b. Hanina said, 'The pin of the gate of Gehenna was fastened to her ear.'" The context does not concern Christ or Mary at all. The letters BSLYM are apparently difficult to interpret "]