The Infancy
Narratives in
Matthew and Luke
Matthew
 Matthew calls his writing “ The
book of the genealogy of Jesus
Christ, the son of David, the
son of Abraham.”
 Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but the couple did not live
together.
 Joseph a “righteous” man and
“son of David” decides to
divorce Mary quietly.
 Angel of the lord appears to
Joseph in a dream and
explains that the child was
conceived through the holy
spirit.
Luke
 In the days of Herod, king of
Judea, Gabriel is sent to
Joseph and Mary in Nazareth.
 Mary is “a virgin betrothed” to
Joseph.
 Angel informs Mary that she
will bear a son, and God has
chosen his name, Jesus.
 Angel informs Mary that her
conception will be by the Holy
Spirit.
 Angel tells Mary about
Elizabeth's pregnancy, and
Mary sets out for “a town of
Judah” to visit Zechariah and
Elizabeth.
Matthew
Luke
 God decides child’s name,
Jesus, “because he will save his
people from their sins.”
 Child’s virgin birth takes place
to fulfill a prophecy from
Isaiah.
 Child also receives the name
Emmanuel, “God is with us.”
 Joseph takes Mary “into his
home” and has no relations
with her until Jesus is born.
 Jesus is born in “Bethlehem of
Judea, in the days of King
Herod.
 Magi go to Herod to find out
where the Messiah is to be
born.
 Mary worships God with
canticle, and remains with
Elizabeth for three months
before returning home.
 Caesar Augustus announces
enrollment, the first
enrollment, when Quirinius is
governor of Syria.
 Joseph and Mary leave
Nazareth and go to Bethlehem
to be enrolled, because there
was no room for them in the
inn.
 An angel of the Lord tells
shepherds “in the area” that
“in the city a savior has been
born,” who is the Messiah.
Matthew
 Herod learns the approximate
time of the Messiah’s birth
from the magi, and asks them
to return to him when they
find him.
 Magi follow star to the “house”
where Mary and the child are.
[as the “home”]
 Magi present gifts of gold,
frankincense, myrrh
 Magi are warned in a dream
no to return to Herod.
 Joseph is warned in a dream to
flee to Egypt with the child and
Mary, to avoid Herod’s
attempt to destroy the child.
Luke
 A “multitude of the heavenly
host” appears with the angel,
and praises God.
 Shepherds got to Bethlehem,
and tell Mary what they were
told.
 On the eighth day, Jesus is
circumcised and given his
name.
 Mary “purifies” herself by
waiting the required number
of days (forty), then takes
Jesus to the temple in
Jerusalem to be consecrated
(as first-born) to the Lord.
Matthew
Luke
 Joseph takes his family to
Egypt, staying until Herod
dies, fulfilling a prophecy from
Hosea, “Out of Egypt I called
my son”.
 Herod orders the death of al
the boys two years and under
in and around Bethlehem
bases on the time given to him
by the magi, fulfilling a
prophecy from Jeremiah.
 Joseph is warned in a dream to
leave Egypt and return to
Israel.
 Joseph is warned in a dream
not to go to Judea, because
Archelaus (Herods son) is
there, so he goes to Nazareth
in Galilee.
 Simeon, a “righteous and
devout” man, identifies the
infant Jesus as the Messiah,
and tells Mary and Joseph
about the child’s destiny.
 Anna, the prophetess, comes
forward and speaks “about the
child”.
 Joseph and Mary return to
Nazareth after they have
fulfilled the prescriptions of
the law,” and Jesus grows up
there.
The “12” Points of Agreement
Points of Agreement
Matthew
Luke
1
Jesus birth is related to the reign of Herod the Great.
2.1
1:5
2
Mary is a virgin who has not yet come to live with her
husband.
1:18
1:27,34
3
Joseph is from the house of David.
1:16,20
1:27 2:4
4
An angel from heaven pronounces the coming birth of
Jesus
1:20-21
1:28-30
5
Jesus is said to be the son of David.
1:1
1:32
6
Jesus conception takes place through the Holy Spirit.
1:18,20
1:35
7
Joseph is not involved in Jesus conception.
1:18-25
1:34
8
The name “Jesus” is given by heaven before birth.
1:21
1:31
9
Jesus “will save” or is a “savior”
1:21
2:11
10
Jesus is born after Joseph and Mary begin living
together.
1:24-25
2:4-7
11
Jesus is born in Bethlehem
2:1
2:4-7
12
Jesus settles, along with Mary and Joesph in Nazareth.
2:22-23
2:39,51