by From Messiah in both Testaments.
Here is an intricate, involved puzzle: so involved it will take a little concentration on the part of the reader to follow the problem and its solution—but it will well repay the effort.
Christ, the Seed of David, must be Virgin-born and yet have a legal right to the throne of David despite the fact that one of Solomon’s descendants was a certain evil man named Jeconiah of whom it was written that none of his descendants would ever rule in Judah (see Jerem. 22:29-30); and despite the fact that in Israel the right to the throne was transmitted only through the male line: and here Christ was born of a virgin! It is perfectly clear that Messiah will inherit “the throne of David” (Isa. 9:7; Jerem. 33:15-17; 25:5; Ps. 132 :11; 1 Chron.17:11,14).
But, since He had to be born of a virgin, how can He get His legal right to the throne of David? And how can the roadblock erected by Jeconiah’s sin be circumvented? Who can untangle these apparently hopelessly confused predictions? Leave it to the Master Mind who both devised the strange prophecies and worked out their fulfillment. Remember, the prophet Isaiah said, “The zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall perform this” (Isa. 9:7).
Not only was the apparently impossible solved and resolved in JESUS THE CHRIST, but God has given us the complete record of how He did it in the genealogies of the New Testament. In Matthew’s genealogy the genealogy of Christ through Joseph is given. This genealogy shows Christ to be “the son of David”—so giving Him right to David’s throne —and also “the son of Abraham”—so giving Him right to the Land of Promise, the territorial possessions given to Abraham and his seed.
In Matthew’s genealogy, Joseph is seen to be in the REGAL line of descent from king David, down through Solomon. But Joseph was also a descendant of David through Jeconiah (also called Coniah)—hence, succession to the throne for Joseph personally is barred.
Matthew’s genealogical record is careful to show that Jesus was NOT, through Joseph, the “fruit of David’s body,” i. e., a direct descendant of David through Joseph. In Luke 3:23-38 Christ’s genealogy is given through Mary. (Heli was obviously Mary’s father, Joseph’s father-in-law, v.23).30 In the record Christ is shown to be the LITERAL “fruit of David’s body” through His mother Mary. But, and this is important: while Mary was in A ROYAL line from David, she was not in THE REGAL lineage, for she was a descendant of king David through Nathan, whereas the throne rights were to come through Solomon’s line (see 1 Chron. 28:5-6). Therefore, Joseph’s marriage to Mary before Christ was born was an absolute necessity—and that is exactly what happened!
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. . . . And behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou SON OF DAVID, fear not to take unto thee Mary THY WIFE: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:18-20).31
So, through Mary, Jesus the Christ obtained His literal descent from King David; and from Mary’s marriage to Joseph, who was also a “son of David.” He obtained His legal right to David’s throne, for Mary was Joseph’s wife before Jesus was born, so making Joseph Jesus’ legal father; His foster father. And, withal, the prophecy concerning Jeconiah was fulfilled too, for Jesus the Christ is NOT the “seed”—a direct descendant— of Jeconiah. Can you think of anything more intricate and involved, and yet worked out with such precision?
Joseph and Mary had to be the parents (foster father and mother) of Jesus the Christ: they were the only two people of that generation who could be, and fulfill prophecy about Messiah. And Joseph had to be married to Mary before Jesus was born, so He could get His legal right to David’s throne through Joseph. At the same time, Christ could not be a child of Joseph because of the bar against a descendant of Jeconiah. And though Joseph had to be married to Mary, yet Joseph could not “know” Mary as his wife until after Jesus was born, for He had to be born of a virgin! And the Divinely ordered fulfillment was perfect in every detail!