Meditation for Monday
And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the Son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli. Luke 3:23
There is a difference in the genealogies of the Lord Jesus as they appear in Matthew and Luke. And the difference begins at the point of listing the father of Joseph. Both Gospels make it clear that Jesus was not the Son of Joseph, so they verify the truth of the virgin birth of our Lord. Matthew’s Gospel states that Jacob begat Joseph, while Luke’s says Joseph was the son of Heli. Because women’s names were usually dropped from genealogies, and their husband’s names substituted, it is very evident that Heli was not Joseph’s father, but Mary’s. So who was Heli? What kind of man was he? Scripture and history are both silent on him; this is the only record that we have that he even existed. But he was obviously a very significant piece in the genealogy, in that he was the grandfather of the Lord Jesus.
We are given considerable details about Mary as the mother of Jesus, and there is much to commend her in many ways. Those of us who have raised daughters know that girls do not automatically become good women; they require a positive environment and the positive influence of good people, primarily good parents. So when we see what a wonderful and godly person Mary turned out to be, we can be sure that her sterling character was molded in a good home. We can thank Heli for that.
Heli lived in discouraging times in a town not known for godliness. And yet, his daughter was well versed in the Scriptures and understood the truths they contained. That could happen only if her parents were godly people, regular attendees at the synagogue, and frequent quoters of the Scriptures that they had memorized. Theirs was a home in which God was honoured. We are not told the name of Jesus’ grandmother, but she was also a godly woman and a wonderful influence on her daughter. We wonder whether Heli and his wife ever knew or understood the significance of their Grandson’s birth. But given the closeness of families in those days, their roles as grandparents undoubtedly brought them into frequent contact with Jesus when He was a boy. How thrilled they would be if they could look back from now and see the results of their excellent parenting of Mary!
We also live in a day when it is becoming more difficult for Christian couples to establish and maintain a godly environment in the home. So many influences of the world reach in to interfere with Bible reading and prayer. So much of society is geared to the breakdown and destruction of family life. And yet, parents should understand from the example of Heli and his wife that raising children according to God’s purposes is always worthwhile. Parents may never see the fruit of their efforts, but they will always be worthwhile.
How much different would a peek into Heli’s home be from a peek into your home when it comes to teaching the children about their God? – Jim MacIntosh