Sorting out genealogies

Differences between the Lukan and Matthean genealogies of Christ have always puzzled scholars. The liberal solution is to consider one or both to be fabricated. Of course, that "solution" is not available to Christians who take the inspiration of Scripture seriously.

As is often the case, we perceive problems because we suffer from tunnel visions. We make simplistic assumptions. Although the article I'm linking to is about OT genealogies, I think it's germane to Matthew and Luke. The scholar draws some useful distinctions, viz., overlapping generations, telescoping, persons who are descended from a common ancestor through two different family lines:

http://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/component/docman/doc_view/70-the-internal-consistency-and-historical-reliability-of-the-biblical-genealogies