At the time of Jesus' birth, most Jewish people were able to recite their genealogy (family tree) all the way back to Adam. The scriptures clearly state that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David of Israel. (Jeremiah 23:5-6; Isaiah 11:1-2; Psalm 89 3-4, 18, 26-37; Acts 2:29-30) Therefore, it was important that Jesus’ genealogy show that he was a descendant of David.
The genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth is provided for us in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 1, and the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 3. There are, however, significant differences between the two. In Matthew's Gospel the father of Jesus' stepfather, Joseph, is listed as “Jacob.” In Luke's Gospel it says that Joseph's father was “Heli.” This is because the genealogy listed in Luke is actually the genealogy of Mary, Jesus’ mother. Heli was Joseph's father-in-law, and Heli was regarded as Joseph's father culturally.
The significance cannot be overstated. If Joseph was Jesus' biological father, then Jesus cannot be the Messiah. Matthew 1:11 shows that Joseph was a descendent of Jeconiah (a.k.a. Jehoiachin) a King in the linage of David who was so evil that he was cursed (2Kings 24:8; 1Chronicles 3:16; Jeremiah 22:18-30), and no descendant of Jeconiah could inherit the throne of David. The only way that Jesus can be "the Christ (Messiah), the Son of the living God," (Matthew 16:16) is through the genealogy of Mary.
Those who would deny the Immaculate Conception, and the virgin birth of Jesus of Nazareth, by doing so also deny Peter's witness that He is the Messiah. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NIV)
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