NATIVITY By Mike Herron

This conflict is resolved by expanding the parenthesis that is put there by the translators to provide a clearer sense of meaning. It is not divinely inspired by the author. With the parenthesis expanded the meaning of the opening sentence of the genealogy changes; ‘ N ow Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, (being as was supposed the son of Joseph) THE SON OF HELI. Luke is careful to note that Jesus is only ‘supposedly’ the son of Joseph. The actual genealogical account is showing that Jesus was the son (grandson) of Heli, who was the father of Mary. 1 Being a generational descendant or grandson of a person means that you are their ‘son.’ An example of this is Jesus being called the ‘Son of David’ although Jesus and David are separated by many generations of ancestors. 26 … Maath, …Mattathiah, …Semei, …Joseph, …Judah, 27 … Joannas, …Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, …Neri, 28 …Melchi, …Addi, …Cosam, …Elmodam, …Er, 29 … Jose, …Eliezer, …Jorim, …Matthat, …Levi, 30 … Simeon, …Judah, …Joseph, …Jonan, …Eliakim, 31 … Melea, …Menan, …Mattathah, the son of Nathan, THE SON OF DAVID, The first 40 names fromHeli to Nathan are not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Who was Elmodam the son of Cosam? (vs 28) God was showing us the importance of seemingly obscure people who passed down their faith to their children from generation to generation. Through all the experiences of their lives they remained faithful to their God until the line of succession reached Heli. His exceptional daughter Mary was ‘highly favored’ and chosen to bear the Christ child. … the son of Mattat, the son of Levi,… Melchi, …Janna, 25 … Mattathiah, …Amos, …Nahum, …Esli, …Joseph, …Naggai,

31 …THE SON OF DAVID, 32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, …Nahshon, 33 …