Animals in Heaven?

Question: Someone recently told me that this is in the Bible - "all animals have a conscience, will be in heaven, and will stand before God to account for everything that they have done in life." Well, being the cat lover that I am, I hope that all cats will be in heaven. (However, I cannot imagine my cat having to account for anything, since he has never even caught a mouse or bird.) However, I have read the Bible - from cover to cover - and I do not recall reading anything like this! Will you please comment on this for me?

Answer:

Every pet lover has asked this question! Do all dogs go to heaven? Do some dogs go to heaven? Would God ever allow a cat in heaven? Great questions!

The words of many theologians, from John Calvin and Martin Luther to St. Francis of Assisi and Pope John Paul II have been used in discussion of animal immortality. Often these words are, in my opinion, taken out of context and removed from their original meaning. Because of this, I want to attempt to answer the question from a biblical point of view and then give a tool to analyze the comments of other preachers and theologians.

Foundational to the question is the issue of the uniqueness of mankind. Certain segments of our society, coming from different points of view but with the same result, have attempted to convince us that all creation stands on equal ground. Often those who promote evolution, environmentalism (as opposed to stewardship of the environment), animal rights, and harmony with nature come from this "equal ground" worldview.

The Bible, however, is very clear that mankind has a priority in the created order that no other creature enjoys. First, the creation story of Genesis 1 and 2 reveals that God made the creatures of the earth "in bulk" until He came to the creation of mankind. On the fifth day (the first day of creation of animal life) God brought forth birds and sea life. God made these in such a way that the sky and the sea would "team with swarms of living creatures" (Genesis 1:20). The next day, God made wild animals and livestock, creeping things and beasts.

But when it came time to create "man" (plural) he created "him" (singular). He created "a man" to be the father of men. This uniqueness should not be overlooked, and is one of the distinguishing characteristics that set man apart from beast.

But also in creating the man Adam we note that this man was "created" while the other creatures were "made" (compare Genesis 1:27 to the rest of the creation story). The Hebrew word for "created" always has God as its subject, while the word for "made" is very general in nature. Genesis 2:7 tells us that God personally formed man from the dust of the ground and placed His own breath into Adam, who then became a living soul. Further, it was only mankind which was specifically declared to be in God's image. In addition, we see the unique creation of Eve compared to every other female form. Every indication is that God has a separate and special role for mankind.

After this special creation, mankind was given a special role. Adam would name the other animals. Adam and Eve would tend the Garden God had placed them in. Mankind would have "dominion" over all the created order. Psalm 8 declares that God made man "a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet" (Psalm 8:5-6 NASB).

This special creation and dominion of man certainly is enough to set mankind into a class of his own. Furthermore, the entire salvation story of the Bible is directed to man and for man.

But, does this mean that animals are not saved?

The key, I believe, is to clarify the question. Much misinterpretation has been done when students of the Word use scriptures which answer one question to speak to another question! There are two important questions in our discussion—

• Will the animal world be redeemed?
  
• Do animals have a soul?
  

When Adam and Eve committed the sin of disobedience, the entire world was placed under a curse (Genesis 3). This included not only Adam and Eve, but animals, plant life, and the earth itself. Romans 8:22 teaches that the "whole creation groans and suffers pain." In fact, in the coming Kingdom creation itself will be released from this curse. In the curse, the perfect relationship that mankind enjoyed with animal life began to be marred. The first sign of this was in the relationship of woman and the serpent (the actual animal) as "enmity" came between them. After the flood, a fear and dread of mankind came to animal life. All of this was part of the curse. The world, though it was not originally designed to be so, became a "dog eat dog" world due to the curse.

But scripture speaks of a coming day when "the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them" (Isaiah 11:6 NASB). This takes place in the coming Millennium in which the created order is released from the curse.

The word "redeemed" literally means "set free" and carries with it the strong message of liberty. While often used in the context of spiritual salvation, the Bible also teaches that redemption will come to all of creation—physical and spiritual—when God liberates this world from the curse. The animal kingdom will rejoice that its days of turmoil are over.

But this question is different from the question of the immortality of an individual animal, and the Bible gives no indication at all that an individual animal has immortality of soul that would be necessary for salvation. In fact, King Solomon bemoans the fact that life seems futile and that "the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other…there is no advantage for man over beast…All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust" (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 NASB). Solomon speaks this in despair, and his conclusion that the death of man is the end of existence leads him to the philosophy that man should just "eat, drink, and be merry" because his end is near and that is all there is no existence. No wonder he proclaims repeatedly "all is vanity!"

Solomon is not teaching that animals have an eternal soul, he is crying over the fact that he believes man does not! He grieves that man and animal have the same end. Later, he learns differently and takes a much better perspective. In the New Testament Paul teaches this better perspective when he says that we should not "grieve as do those who have no hope" but rather take joy in our faith that Jesus provides resurrection of the body and salvation for the soul (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

In conclusion, the Bible teaches that animals will be in the millennial kingdom and in the eternal heavens, but it does not teach that our specific pets have any life beyond this world. So, love your pets and care for them, treating them as a gift from God while they are here. When they are gone, sadly grieve that the curse of this world has found another victim—but rejoice that this curse is temporary and someday we will grieve no more!

E. T. Phone Home!

Question: can a Christian truly believe in the God of the Holy Bible and give credence to the possibility of the existence of extraterrestrial life. I understand that the Vatican is looking into this possibility. What do you think the Lord's view is about such a thing?

Answer:

The search for E.T. has been almost universal for all of modern history (if not ancient). It just seems to most of us to be so improbably that in this vast universe the only intelligent life would be mankind.

Personally, however, I do not believe that the Bible supports the idea of alien life-forms. Here are a few reasons why—

1. The real "motive" behind teaching about life on other planets is evolution. If life evolved on earth, there is an equal chance that it has evolved elsewhere. If I believed in evolution, I would likely believe in alien life. An evolutionary world-view gives no basis for excluding the possibility of E.T.
   
2. If Aliens exist, they would have to have been created by God, somewhere around 6,000-10,000 years ago. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). This all-encompassing introduction to history would, by necessity, include Aliens.
   
3. Since space is such a vast frontier, if God did create Aliens, they would not have had time to get here. Just do some simple math to see that any life-form traveling from outside the solar system has not had enough time to get here yet! The energy required and physical limitations to overcome in order to get a spaceship from some planetary paradise to earth are overwhelming. The speed of light is the universal "speed limit", but nothing with mass can travel at the speed of light, and if it did, the dust particles of space would bring it quickly to a spectacular end. Due to physical impossibility, I reject all thoughts of "spaceships" and U.F.O's. They must be objects of vivid imagination or unexplained but explainable phenomenon. If Aliens do exist, they have not arrived on earth via spaceship.
   
4. The scripture indicates that Mankind is the crown of creation, and exists to bring glory to God. Alien communities would have to be subject to Adam's fall ("the whole creation suffers and groans" (Romans 8:22) because of the fall of Man). Why would aliens be subject to Adam's fall, and how would they know of their pending doom and/or of salvation in Jesus Christ?
   

Now, I do believe in a certain kind of "alien", and that is in the spirit-world of angels and demons. These "aliens" are not subject to the limitations of time and space, though they are the creation of God. Outside of this, any E.T. is likely a fanciful work of the imagination.

“In Those Days , In These Times”

Readers—What follows is the work of my Jewish Israeli friend, Shalom Pollack. I thought it was fitting since Jews are in the Hanukkah celebration. For those not familiar with Hanukkah (also called Chanukah), the phrase "In those days, In these times" is from a common Hanukkah prayer. (By the way…check out Shalom's webpage here!")

___

On the twenty fifth day of the month of Kislev , over twenty-one hundred years ago, the Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated after it was wrenched from the hands of the defiling Greeks. Thus ended a war no one planned or even dreamed could happen.

To understand the miracle of the few against the many and the pure against the defiled, we can go back to the famous young Macedonian / Greek conqueror, Alexander the Great. Bursting out of the Greek islands he never stopped, defeating Persian armies five times his size, and pushed right on to India. He would have gone further had he not died at age thirt- two, totally burnt out after declaring himself a God and apparently never leaving the fast lane in his personal and public life.

It should be said that when he came upon Jerusalem and was prepared to add it to his list of conquests he had a historic meeting with the head of the Sanhedrin (high court) and high priest, Shimon the Just.

It is told in the Talmud that the young conqueror dismounted and bowed down to this High priest of the Temple of the true God. His aids could not understand but the young conqueror apparently did! Jerusalem was spared and Alexander is an accepted name for Jewish children to this very day.

With the passing of the undisputed leader, however things began to get out of hand.

The vast empire was divided into three parts by his generals – and they began an unending series of wars amongst themselves. Ptolemies in Egypt and the Seleucids in Syria established impressive Hellenistic centers and Greek culture was copied by all the peoples from Egypt to Babylon. Well, almost all the peoples!

The Jewish people in the land of Israel were not enamored of the glitter or power of Hellenistic culture. The Greeks were patient. All peoples finally came around to embracing their "superior" ways. The Jews would too, they believed. In fact some Jews did. Referred to Hellenists, they were Jews at home and Greeks in the office and at the gym. In fact since the all important sports contests were done in the nude, celebrating the perfect body, some Jews felt uncomfortable with their circumcisions revealing tainted bodies. Cosmetic surgery allowed them then to pass.

Things were actually going just the way the Greeks predicted when in the year 169 BCE, the Seleucids under Antiochus Epiphanies were chased out of Egypt and victory against his Ptolemy rivals was denied.

Antiochus vented his humiliation and frustration at the Jews of Israel as he retreated across their territory. He sacked Jerusalem, plundered the Temple, and, at the advice of Jewish Hellenists, enacted laws that would ensure all his subjects finally "go Greek" all the way.

Thus began the draconian and humiliating anti-Jewish laws and the defilement of the Temple, including sacrifice of pigs to Zeus and harlotry where the priests performed the holy service. Women gave their lives to circumcise their babies. Jews caught studying Torah were burned alive in the scrolls.

Antiochus was determined to make the Jews into good Hellenists and to see the light.

But then, for the first time in history, a small nation (in fact a small part of a small nation) raised the banner of revolt against a world power in a bid for religious principal.

When the Greek soldiers and their Jewish Hellenistic allies came to one of the rural villages to enforce the king's edicts and have the villagers bow down to his image, an old man said no! Matisyahu the Hasmonean priest simply said no. When the soldiers were about to make an example of him, his five stout sons made sure those soldiers did not get to go home to tell the rest of the story. " He is for God, follow me!" The revolt was on.

In the beginning, the Jews would not fight on the Sabbath but after a group of one thousand men women and children would not come out of a cave to fight on the Sabbath and were smoked to death by the Greeks, Matisyahu judged that it was permissible to violate the Sabbath in this war against the forces of evil.

Villagers flocked to the banner and soon a large guerrilla force led by the old man and his sons were routing professional and well armed armies many times their size. When Matisyahu died, his son, Judah the Maccabee ( The Hammer) led the Jews. This son became the worst nightmare of the best Greek generals.

In one of the earlier and spectacular engagements, Judah awaited the huge enemy army that was bearing down on his mountain strong hold from Samaria in the north and from the coast in the West. Judah took his army to Mitzpe, the hill top where Samuel the prophet defeated the Philistines a thousand years earlier and where he is buried. There he fasted and prayed with his fighters and then swooped down behind one of the armies in an ail night march. With the morning sun in the enemies eyes and surprised from behind, they fled, leaving supplies enough to arm the Jewish rebels. The other column searched for the Jewish force in the hills when they were flanked from behind as well. The guerrilla army knew the terrain and knew why they were fighting.

One can visit the battle fields of Emaus, Bet Horon, Mitzpe, Mt Gofna, Bet Zur... These places have since seen later instances of Jewish heroism as recent as 1948 and 1967.

And so on the twenty fifth day of Kislev, three years after old Matisyahu said no, the Jewish fighters entered Jerusalem, scattering the Greeks and their Hellenist allies. They went straight for the Menorah, unlit for three years amidst the desecration on Temple mount. With only one vase of pure olive oil they rushed to relight the seven branched menorah. They did their part. They took on the Greek empire and won and now they attended to the daily lighting. Not enough oil for more that only one day? One day at a time. God who gave them the miraculous victory will figure it out. And eight days later that oil was still burning. "In those days in these times…"

A story is told about the freezing days and nights at Valley Forge when General Washington tried to rally his tattered troops against the mercenaries of the British empire. On one bitter cold night Washington made the rounds encouraging his men to hold on until morning. He came across one young man lighting a small oil lamp in a dark cold corner of his tattered tent. The general stopped to offer some warm words of encouragement. When he bent down he said, "I see you brought your own heat from home. Well done!" The soldier looked up startled at the VIP visitor and told the general, "No sir, I am not even allowed to have any benefit from this candle. It is holy, it is a Chanukah candle commemorating the victory of my persecuted forefathers over the vast Greek armies of oppression in the Land of Israel." The general paused and said, "Son, you have given me the greatest encouragement possible. I am confident that we too will overcome the odds and defeat tyranny in our land"

Years later, after the war, a knock brought the young Jewish veteran to the door of his New York apartment. It was now President Washington at the door. He brought a medallion with him. On one side were the words " Valley Forge", On the other was Chanukah: "In those days in these times".

Longing for the Scepter

Dear Readers;

For this post, rather than answering a question, I want to speak to a current event.

This week in Israel there were three related headlines that speak to the validity of scripture.

One of the Bible's most ancient prophecies is Genesis 49. This prophetic word from Jacob is on my long list of scriptures on which I would someday like to write a book. Don't hold your breath for the publication date!

Of the many incredibly interesting prophecies of Genesis 49 is one about the Messiah, found in verse 10: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes…." Without going into detail, allow me to paraphrase this to simply say "Judah will have the ability to administer the Torah Law until the Messiah comes.

The three headlines that speak to this scripture are—

Justice Minister: Restore Jewish Law to Israel

Knesset Bill to Force Courts to 'Return to Zion'

Chief Rabbi: No Shame in Aspiring to Implement Torah Law

Israeli Justice Minister (equivalent to our Attorney General) Yaakov Ne'eman said, "Let us restore the crown to its place, let us restore to the State of Israel the tradition of our forefathers, the words of the earlier and later authorities in which can be found complete solutions to all the problems that face us. Let us restore the crown to its place, speedily in our days, Amen."

If you replace "crown" with "scepter" you have a direct connection with Genesis 49:10. The Knesset Bill proposes the same thing, as does the Chief Rabbi of Israel. There is a definite, concerted desire in Israel to see the scepter back in the hands of Judah (rather than under the control of secularism, as it is today in Israel).

First, I applaud this desire. Israel has no meaning outside of its Jewish nature.

But second, I am amazed at the accuracy of Genesis 49:10. Spoken nearly 2,000 years before the Messiah, Jacob prophesied that Judah would have the ability to implement and enforce Jewish Torah "until Shiloh comes".

But now, for 2,000 years, Judah has not had the scepter. It was taken away by the Roman Government under the Procurater Caponius about 6-7 A.D. (according to Josephus in Antiquities 17:13). It was at that time that Judah lost the ability to enforce Torah, and now was bound to the Roman government (which is the reason Jesus was sent to Pilate).

While the desire of current political and religious figures in Israel is commendable from a Jewish point of view, the words of Jacob clearly show that the scepter would be removed when "Shiloh" comes. And, indeed, when the scepter was removed, Shiloh was living in Nazareth. And, very possibly, was a 12 year old boy who was teaching in the temple, astonishing the leaders.

Now, what about the desire of these Israeli leaders? Will the "scepter" be restored? Will Torah once again become national law in Israel? I believe that the answer is "Yes".

While there is a possibility that verse 10 has a double meaning, and that the second coming in Shiloh could also be a reference point, I think that is the secondary reading. But clearly in Genesis 49, as we follow from verse 10, we see a time when Israel would become a nation of wealth and trade (vv. 12-13), followed by a time of bearing burdens (vv. 14-15), then comes a time when "Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel" (v. 16). I believe that it is in the time of Dan that the scepter shall return and Torah observance will once again be a trademark of the Jewish nation.

Unfortunately, I also believe that corresponds to the time of the Antichrist!

(PS: My Jewish friends who are interested in a Jewish Israel should get to know Moshe Feiglin. I had the opportunity to hear him speak recently. He has a fascinating message).

To the Praise of His Glory

Question: I am reading in Eph 1 this morning and found verse 12 which says, " to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory." I am struggling with "praise of His glory". Are we to be praised by His glory? Or are we to praise His glory? I struggle even understanding what "His glory" is. What does this mean for us? Are we to do something with this verse as in do some action or just understand something?

Answer:

Part of the answer is found in the words "to the end", which is connected with the previous verses, beginning in verse 7. These verses talk about our redemption and its purpose, "to the end" that we (the Redeemed) are to be "to the praise of His glory". Perhaps a better translation would be that we are "to be unto praise of the glory of God."

This verse sets out the "doxalogical" purpose of the believer. "Doxa" is the Greek word for glory and splendor. The believer, as a response to grace, is to give himself to praise the glory and splendor of God.

The role of praising the Glory of God is displayed strongly in verse 14 where we are told of the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is a pledge of our inheritance. Why did God give the Spirit as a pledge? Paul says it was "to the praise of His glory." The scripture consistently speaks of the role of the Spirit in pointing others to Jesus and praising the Father. This same role of the indwelling Spirit of God is given to believers.

God's glory is God's "splendor." As believers, we are to "brag on" the splendor, majesty, power, and righteousness of God. This is why we are saved.

God does nothing that does not come from the motivation of His own glory. He will share anything but His glory, as our "holy history" has displayed time and time again. When we mess with God's glory, we are in very dangerous territory. When we speak, sing, preach, pray, and live "to the praise of His glory", then we are fulfilling the purpose of our lives. So, everything we do should be "to the praise of His glory," that is, "to brag about His splendor!"

So I close by reminding us how great God is! He is great, powerful, glorious, splendid, and majestic. Everything on heaven and earth is His. He is the King, Supreme Ruler over all! (1 Chronicles 29:11).

 

Our Anti-Jewish Pro-Muslim Government

The growing love-affair with the Muslim world, at the expense of the Jewish world, causes me great discomfort. I am convinced that this turn of loyalties will bring a spiritual curse upon America.

First, let me say that I do not feel that the United States Government is prohibited from noting the positive aspects of any culture or religion. That said, however, I notice a growing trend to slobber praise upon Islam and ignore, ridicule, or condemn Jews and Christians.

I've just spent a good bit of time looking at the websites for the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem and the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. (On a side note, the Embassy should be in the internationally recognized capital of Israel, which is Jerusalem, and the consulate in Tel Aviv or another Israeli or West Bank city). As I looked through these websites I was quickly struck by one stark factor: the sites were pro-Muslim. In a nation built upon one faith—Judaism—our embassy is fixated with another faith. Can you imagine if the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See (the Vatican) were to have greetings to those celebrating Reformation Day?

At the consulates website, President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton, and Consul General Rubinstein all have Ramadan related greetings. Seems no one wanted to be left out of the love-fest. Here is just a sampling of their words—

From the Consul General—

I would like to offer my warm personal greetings to the Palestinian people as you join Muslims all around the world to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan by celebrating Eid al-Fitr…[My family and I] have been fortunate to share Ramadan traditions and experience the values of personal reflection, humility and charity that are integral to the observation of Ramadan. Sharing in the spirit of Ramadan, the U.S. Consulate General has partnered with Palestinian organizations in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem to host Ramadan cultural activities throughout the month. We have hosted Iftars, musical performances, quiz nights, theater performances and community service activities for families and young people. We were able to donate books to schools in East Jerusalem and Bethlehem and a community center in the Old City. The friendship we share as Americans and Palestinians is special and very important. All of us here at the U.S. Consulate General are dedicated to working with Palestinians in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieving our common goal of an Independent Palestinian state. 

From the Secretary of State--

For Muslims all over the world, Eid ul Fitr marks the end of a holy month of fasting and prayer. This time of self-reflection reminds us that the values of Islam-- charity, community, cooperation, compassion—are values which we hold dear as Americans…As President Obama said in Cairo, the United States seeks a new beginning with Muslims around the world, one based on mutual interest and respect…let us hold on to the spirit of Ramadan to achieve our common goals of peace, prosperity, and stability.

 

From the President—

"As Muslims in the United States and around the world complete the month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, Michelle and I would like to extend our personal greetings on this joyous occasion. Eid is a time to celebrate the completion of 30 days and nights of devotion. But even on this festive occasion, Muslims remember those less fortunate, including those impacted by poverty, hunger, conflict, and disease. Throughout the month, Muslim communities collect and distribute zakat-ul-fitr so that all Muslims are able to participate in this day of celebration. As I said in Cairo, my Administration is working to ensure that Muslims are able to fulfill their charitable obligations not just during Ramadan, but throughout the year. On behalf of the American people, we congratulate Muslims in the United States and around the world on this blessed day. Eid Mubarak." 

It is important to realize that September is not just the month of Ramadan, but also has the most holy days of the Jewish year—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Neither the U.S. Embassy website nor that of the consulate General had any noticeable recognition that these days took place. Through the Embassy website I was able to use the search box to find a link to a White House website which was to have a Rosh Hashanah message from the President. Arriving at the White House site, however, I had to use the search function once again to find the message. After the search, I found almost no praise for Judaism ("Jews have overcome extraordinary adversity, holding fast to the hope of tomorrow"). Rather than praise, the greeting was a subtle scolding. The president said that this was a time "to heal old divisions, seek new understandings, and come together to build a better world." Jews were instructed to "reject the impulse to harden ourselves to others' suffering, and instead make a habit of empathy… [to]resist prejudice, intolerance, and indifference."

Strangely, no such scolding was given to the Muslim community, which is overflowing with prejudice, intolerance, and indifference, and is—of all the communities of the world—most needing to "seek new understandings, and come together to build a better world."

For further evidence of our nation's anti-jew world-view, check out the Middle East Region section of America.Gov and look for anything other than pro-muslim propaganda. You will find, easily accesable, a downloadable 60 page book, produced by the State Department, that celebrates Muslim influence in America. (I'm still looking for the Jewish version).

To top it off, President Obama spoke to the United Nations General Assembly and said to the world, "America does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements". What is a settlement? It is a Jewish town with Jewish families, businesses, schools, and synagogues. Where are these settlements? Many are in the suburbs of Jerusalem. Some are in Samaria (capital city of ancient Israel), others in Judea (home of the patriarchs). These "settlements" are Jewish cities in which Jews have lived since the 1940s (and previously lived for thousands of years). These are cities in which Jews purchased homes and properties, often from their Arab-Israeli neighbors. They are properties legitimately purchased with clear title. Obama's policy is clear—No Jews.

This policy sounds frighteningly Hitleresque. As you know, Hitler began to choose towns and locations in Germany that were to be "Jew Free" (look up the word "Judenfrei"). This is Obama's stated and clear policy, and it is to be carried out in lands that are undeniably of Jewish heritage.

The Palestinian-Israeli problem must be worked out. There are better solutions than Obama's indisputable desire for "Jew Free Zones".

So, we have a clearly anti-Semitic administration. Speaking of the future nation that would come from Abraham, God's Word says, "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you" (Genesis 12:3).

Prepare.

In His Grace,

Dr. Randy White

Who was Joseph’s Dad?

Question: Matthew 1 says that Joseph's father was Jacob, Luke 3 says that Joseph's father was Eli.
Why the contradiction?

Answer: This has been troublesome to many, and one of the most common answers seems to miss the point!

Luke 3:23 does say that Joseph is "the son of Eli" (or Heli, in some translations). If you type "Eli died childless" into any search engine, you will come up with hundreds of explanations for this seeming contradiction, each presuming the early demise of Joseph's real father, Eli, and the subsequent remarriage of Joseph's mother to Jacob, who adopted Joseph. While this would fulfill Levitical law, there is nothing but conjecture that can support this oft-given answer.

I think a better answer can be found!

If you look closely, you will find that in Luke 3:23 you either have an explanatory foot note at the words "son of", or those words appear in italics. This is because "son of" is only assumed, but not actually in the Greek text. I believe it is better to assume that Joseph is "of Eli" as his son-in-law, not his son. Thus, Luke's genealogy is of Mary, not of Joseph. To support this are Luke's words that Jesus was "being, as was supposed the son of Joseph" [emphasis mine]. The word "son" does occur in this context. But Luke goes on to give the genealogy of Mary, who was indeed the natural line of heritage (Jesus being born of a virgin). In other words, Luke says "many think that Jesus is the natural son of Joseph, but in reality He is through the line of Mary, who is of Eli, of Matthat, etc."

Thus, Luke 3 carries the natural genealogy of Jesus while Matthew 1 traces the legal genealogy. Why is this important? Matthew is writing to Jews, who would want to know that Jesus is a legal heir to David's throne. Luke is writing to Gentiles who would want to know that Jesus is both a Son of David but also fulfills the Genesis 3:15 promise of the Seed of a woman (thus Luke's genealogy goes back to Adam).

So, Eli is not the only inconsistency. In fact, every name from Eli back to David is different from Matthew's version. However, every name from David back to Abraham is consistent with Matthew's version! This shows us that, both naturally and legally, Jesus was the descendent of David. Mary came from David's son Nathan, while Joseph came from David's son Solomon. The consistency of the two genealogies from Abraham to David is evidence that both of these genealogies can be trusted.

Through whichever family tree you follow, Jesus is the son of David!