Morgus Haleigh Morgus HN201: Human Drama Professor Walsh 30 November 2012 Profound Differences in the Nativity

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both tell the story of Jesus birth in Bethlehem, but are filled with significant dissimilarities that make each Nativity story seem as if it is talking about a completely different event. As separate narratives the Gospels are not compatible, but when parts are combined from each, the story of the Nativity that is heard most frequently today is created. The most obvious difference between the Gospels of Matthew and Luke is that Matthew explains the coming of the angel from Josephs point of view, and Luke depicts the same event from Marys point of view. Matthew writes that Joseph was considering divorcing Mary, since she was already with child before they were married, but reconsiders when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). Luke, on the other hand writes, the angel Gabriel was sent from Godto a virginand the virgins name was Mary (Luke 1:26-27). If the point of view of each of the Gospels was the only difference between the two, the narratives could have been compatible with each other, for each would explain a different perspective of the same story. Since there are more differences, however, the compatibility between the stories decreases.

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The importance of Nazareth and Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph differs in both of the Gospels. Matthew states, Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1), and then Joseph and Mary withdrew to the district of Galilee (Matthew 2:22) some time after Jesus birth. Matthew does not mention where Joseph and Mary originally lived, but since he does not mention that the couple traveled to Bethlehem, his Gospel implies that the two lived there before Jesus birth. Luke, on the other hand, writes, Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem in order to enroll in the census (Luke 2:4-5). Therefore, when Mary, Joseph and Jesus went to Nazareth after Jesus birth, they were not fleeing to the city, but returning to their original home. Matthews Gospel is vague concerning how Mary and Joseph came to be in Bethlehem, and Lukes census may or may not have actual historical background. There is, however, logic behind insisting that the couple be in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus birth. The prophecy that foretold Jesus coming states, Bethlehem from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel (Micah 5:2). In order for the prophecy of Jesus birth to be fulfilled, Luke and Matthew had to have Mary and Joseph end up in Bethlehem, but depicted the event in different ways. Not only does the location of Mary, Jesus and Joseph differ between the two Gospels, but both authors discuss different rulers in relation to whose reign Jesus was born. According to Matthew, Jesus was born in the days of Herod the king (Matthew 2:1), whereas Luke recounts that Jesus was born when a decree went out from Caesar Augustus during the first census when Quirini-us was the governor of Syria (Luke 2:1-2). Herod was the king of Judea during this time period and Caesar Augustus was the emperor. So Matthew is discussing the rulers from a more narrow sense, whereas Luke

Morgus discusses who reigns on a broader spectrum, but neither mentions both levels of rulers. When reading the two Gospels this fact makes the two events seem like they happened during completely different time periods, when in actuality the reign of the two, Herod and Augustus, actually overlapped. Another dissimilarity between the two Gospels is the difference between the

groups of people who came to visit Jesus once he was born. According to Lukes Gospel, there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, and the angel of the Lord appeared to tell them of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:8-12). Jesus visitors, according to Matthew, were wise men sent by Herod, who offered [Jesus] gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh (Matthew 2:7-12). Matthew and Luke may have been writing for different audiences, so they could have chosen a certain group to be the first to see Jesus based on who their audience was. Neither Gospel, however, acknowledges the coming of both groups, or explains why one would be more important to mention than the other. As each of the Gospels continues there are more and more differences. Matthew writes that Joseph took his family and fled immediately after Jesus birth (Matthew 2:1415), whereas writes that the family stayed in Bethlehem and Jesus was then circumcised after eight days (Luke 2:21). Matthews Gospel includes Herods slaughtering of the young children (Matthew 2:16), whereas Luke, if the event did happen, ignores it in its entirety with explanation. While taking bits and pieces from each Nativity account does create the traditional story of Jesus birth that is cohesive and fitting, it is impossible that both stories could tell the full truth. The stories become compatible once they are torn apart and remerged together, but are obviously different when compared side by side.

Morgus Works Cited May, Herbert G., and Bruce Manning. Metzger. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha: Revised Standard Version, Containing the Second Edition of the New Testament and an Expanded Edition of the Apocrypha. New York: Oxford UP, 1977. Print.