The Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph

The Birth of Jesus:
Comparing the Gospel Infancy Narratives
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

---

Introduction to Matthew one–2 and Luke one–2:

The nascency of Jesus is narrated at the kickoff of the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke, but is not mentioned in Mark, and alluded to very differently in John. Although the story may seem familiar, a close analysis shows that there are many significant differences between the Matthean and Lukan accounts, with hardly anything in common between them. The following are the merely commonalities, and fifty-fifty these contain meaning differences in the details:

Mutual Elements in Both Infancy Narratives:

• Master characters: Mary, Joseph, Jesus
• Supporting characters: Angels, Holy Spirit
• Titles attributed to Jesus: Christ, son of David
• Heritage: children of Abraham/Israel, business firm of David
• Identify names: Nazareth in Galilee, Bethlehem in Judea
• Historical period: during the reign of King Herod
• Encounter beneath for Raymond Brown's list of eleven shared points.

Different Contents of the 2 Accounts:

Matthew i–two (only 48 verses, including genealogy)	Luke one–2 (full of 132 verses, plus 16 more than in genealogy)
1:1 - Title of the Gospel	ane:1-4 - Literary introduction to the Gospel
1:2-17 - The Genealogy of Jesus (from Abraham to King David to Exile to Joseph)	(Genealogy included later, in Luke 3:23-38)
-	1:5-25 - Angel Gabriel announces John the Baptist's birth
one:18-24 - An unnamed angel announces Jesus' birth to Joseph in a dream	i:26-38 - Angel Gabriel announces Jesus' birth to Mary while awake
-	1:39-56 - Mary visits Elizabeth (incl. Mary's "Magnificat")
-	1:57-58 - Elizabeth gives birth to her son (John the Baptist)
-	i:59-80 - John the Baptist is circumcised & named (incl. Zechariah's "Benedictus")
-	2:ane-5 - Joseph & Mary journeying to Bethlehem for the census
1:25 & 2:1a - Mary's son is born in Bethlehem of Judea, and he is named Jesus	2:half-dozen-7 - Mary gives birth to her son in Bethlehem of Judea (only the infant is not named until five. 21)
-	two:8-14 - Angels appear to some shepherds (incl. the angels' "Gloria")
-	2:15-20 - Shepherds visit Mary & Joseph & the infant lying in a manger
-	two:21 - The infant is circumcised & named Jesus
-	2:22-38 - Jesus is presented to God in the Temple (incl. Simeon's "Nunc Dimittis")
two:1b-12 - Magi from the East come; they showtime visit Herod, and so Jesus	-
2:13-21 - Joseph & Mary abscond to Arab republic of egypt with the child Jesus; the Innocents are murdered; the Holy Family unit returns to State of israel	-
2:22-23 - They journey to Nazareth (for the first time)	two:39-forty - The family unit returns to Nazareth
-	2:41-52 - At age twelve, Jesus & his parents visit the Jerusalem Temple

Click here for more detail on the construction of Luke's Infancy Narrative

Different Theological Emphases of Each Narrative:

.	Matthew 1–2	Luke 1–two
Driving Forcefulness:	Hebrew Scriptures are fulfilled (1:22-23; ii:5-half dozen, xv, 17-18, 23)	Holy Spirit is at work (one:xv, 35, 41, 67; 2:25-27)
Jesus' Heritage:	* Son of David , son of Abraham (1:1-17) * Legal son of Joseph, but child of the Holy Spirit (i:eighteen-25)	* Son of God , son of Mary by the Holy Spirit (1:26-38) * Heir to David's throne, over the house of Judah (1:32-33; ii:iv)
Names & Titles:	* Messiah (1:1, sixteen-18; ii:four) * Jesus: "For he will save his people from their sins" (i:21, 25) * Emmanuel: "God with us" (1:23) * King of the Jews (two:ii) * "A ruler who is to shepherd my people State of israel" (2:6) * Nazorean (ii:23)	* Jesus (i:31; 2:21) * Son of the Near High; Son of God (1:32, 35) * He volition be corking, holy, full of wisdom and grace (one:32, 35; 2:40) * "Of his kingdom there will exist no stop" (1:33) * A Savior is built-in... who is Messiah and Lord (ii:xi, 26) * A light for revelation to Gentiles and for celebrity to Israel (2:32)
Characters Emphasized:	Men: King David, Joseph of Nazareth, Magi from the East, King Herod, principal priests & scribes, Ethnarch Archelaus	Women: Virgin Mary of Nazareth, Elizabeth, Anna Poor & Aged: Shepherds, Zechariah, Simeon
Geography & Chronology:	Starts in Bethlehem , where Joseph patently lives. Magi enter the "house" to visit Mary and the "child" (toddler?). Family fees to Egypt (how long?) & render from Egypt (when?). Motility north to Nazareth in Galilee (for the get-go time).	Gabriel appears to Mary, who is living in Nazareth (Galilee). Family journeys south to visit Bethlehem due to the demography; "Baby" (baby!) is laid in a "manger" (no mention of "firm"). Return to Nazareth before long afterwards Presentation in Jerusalem Temple.
Themes:	obstacles, disharmonize, fear, murder, politics	glory, praise, joy;  poverty, humility, faith
OT Parallels:	Dreamer Joseph (Genesis 37–41) Baby Moses (Exodus 1–2)	Nascence of Samson (Judges thirteen) Birth of Samuel (1 Sam 1–ii)
Number Symbolism:	[King] David = 14 (DVD = 4+6+4); three groups of fourteen generations in genealogy; focus on royalty	70 weeks from Gabriel's first Annunciation to Presentation in Temple? related to lxx-week prophecy past angel Gabriel in Daniel ix:24-27?
Distinctive Images:

Sometime Attestation Quotations and Allusions in Matthew's Infancy Narrative:

Matthew'southward Gospel	Old Testament Texts
Matt 1:3b-6a - [direct quotation of ten generations from Perez to David]	Ruth 4:xviii-22 - [ten generations from Perez to David]
Matt 1:22-23 - All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall proper noun him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."	Isaiah 7:xiv - "Therefore the Lord himself will give yous a sign. Await, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel." Isaiah 8:8b, x - "It [the Assyrian regular army ] volition sweep on into Judah every bit a overflowing, and, pouring over, information technology volition reach up to the neck; and its outspread wings volition fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel... / Take counsel together, but it shall be brought to naught; speak a word, merely it will not stand up, for God is with united states of america."
Matt 2:2 - [Magi inquire Herod]: "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." (cf. ii:8)	Numbers 24:17-19 - "I come across him, but not now; I behold him, merely not nearly-- a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall trounce the borderlands of Moab, and the territory of all the Shethites. / Edom volition become a possession, Seir a possession of its enemies, while Israel does valiantly. / One out of Jacob shall dominion, and destroy the survivors of Ir."
Matt two:5-vi - [scribes tell King Herod where the Messiah will be born]: "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so information technology has been written by the prophet: / 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least amongst the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"	Micah v:two - "Simply y'all, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are ane of the little clans of Judah, from yous shall come forth for me 1 who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of quondam, from ancient days."
Matt 2:11b - Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of aureate, frankincense, and myrrh.	Isaiah 60:3, 6 - "Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn... A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD."
Matt two:14-15 - Then Joseph got upwardly, took the child and his mother past night, and went to Egypt, / and remained in that location until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken past the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Arab republic of egypt I have chosen my son."	Hosea 11:1 - "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son."
Matt 2:17-18 - And so was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: / "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more than."	Jeremiah 31:15 - "Thus says the LORD: A phonation is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more."
Matt two:23 - There [in Galilee] he [Joseph] made his home in a town called Nazareth, and then that what had been spoken through the prophets might exist fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."	Isaiah 11:1 - "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch ( nezer ) shall grow out of his roots."

---

What does Marker'south Gospel Say about Jesus' Heritage?

The Gospel according to Mark does not contain a narrative of Jesus' birth, simply information technology does make a few brief references to his family heritage:

• Mark'southward Gospel does not straight tell us where Jesus was built-in, and it never mentions the town Bethlehem;
  • Several times information technology calls him "Jesus of Nazareth " (one:24; 10:47; 16:half-dozen) or "the Nazarene " (xiv:67).
  • These references practise not necessarily imply that Jesus was born at that place, but at to the lowest degree indicate that he grew up in the town of Nazareth in Galilee (cf. 1:9).
• Mark's Gospel says nothing nearly who Jesus' earthly father was, nor does information technology ever mention Joseph by proper noun;
  • In contrast, Jesus several times refers to God as his "Father" (8:38; 14:36; run across too eleven:25; 13:32).
• But one time does Mark's Gospel mention the name of Jesus' female parent, calling him "the son of Mary" (six:3).
• His mother is referred to in only 1 other pericope, when she (along with his "brothers and sisters") comes to come across Jesus while he is preaching in Capernaum (iii:31-35).
• Although Mark tells us that Jesus had "brothers and sisters" (3:31-32), and even names four of his "brothers" (6:iii; James, Joses, Judas, and Simon), it never specifies if these were older or younger siblings, nor whether these were children of his ain mother and/or father, or other shut relatives (using "brother/sister" in an extended sense for what we might call "cousins," as was common in ancient Jewish culture).
• At the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, Mark'southward Gospel mentions the presence of a certain "Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses" (xv:40; cfr. 15:47; xvi:1); some scholars argue that these references are to Mary, the female parent of Jesus, while other scholars believe it refers to another Mary (since these were all very common names at the time).
• See as well a separate page about The Family unit of Jesus.
• Mark mentions Jesus' occupation only once, calling him a "carpenter" (half-dozen:3; the Greek word τέκτων/tekton could also mean "craftsman" or "construction worker").
  • In contrast, Matthew's Gospel only calls Jesus "the carpenter's son" (Matt 13:55), while Luke and John say nothing about what occupation Jesus had earlier beginning his public ministry.

Johannine References to Jesus' Heritage and Birth:

Although the Fourth Gospel does not contain a narrative of Jesus' nascency, it does mention his "coming into the earth" and "becoming flesh" (Latin: incarnatus est), as well as several debates virtually his heritage (Is he Judean or Galilean? homo or divine?):

• The Incarnation: "The Give-and-take Made Mankind"
  • "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
    He was in the earth, and the world came into being through him; still the world did not know him.
    He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.
    But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,
    who were born, non of blood or of the will of the mankind or of the will of human, merely of God.
    And the Discussion became flesh and lived amongst us , and we accept seen his celebrity, the glory as of a father's only son, total of grace and truth." (ane:9-14)
• The Ancestry of Jesus: Son of Joseph or Son of God?
  • Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We take found him virtually whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth. "
    Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."
    When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"
    Nathanael asked him, "Where did you go to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree earlier Philip called y'all."
    Nathanael replied, " Rabbi, y'all are the Son of God! You are the King of State of israel! " (i:45-49; cf. 6:42)
• The Messiah's Origin: Known or Unknown? From Bethlehem or Galilee?
  • Now some of the people of Jerusalem were maxim, "Is non this the human being whom they are trying to kill?
    And here he is, speaking openly, only they say cypher to him! Can it exist that the regime really know that this is the Messiah?
    All the same we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no i will know where he is from ."
    So Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I am from.
    I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do non know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." (seven:25-29)
  • When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, "This is really the prophet."
    Others said, "This is the Messiah." But some asked, "Surely the Messiah does non come from Galilee , does he?
    Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem , the hamlet where David lived?" (7:40-42; cf. 7:52)
  • "Even if I show on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, only you do not know where I come up from or where I am going." (8:xiv)
  • [Pharisees]: " We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this human [Jesus], nosotros do not know where he comes from."
    The [formerly-blind] man answered, "Here is an amazing affair! You exercise not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes." (9:29-30)
  • [Jewish authorities to Pilate]: "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to exist the Son of God."
    At present when Pilate heard this, he was more agape than ever.
    He entered his headquarters over again and asked Jesus, " Where are you from? " Simply Jesus gave him no reply. (19:7-9)

Utilize of the Infancy Narratives in the Lectionary for Mass:

• Quaternary Lord's day of Appearance, Years A, B, C: parts of Matthew ane & Luke 1
• Weekdays of Appearance, December. 17-24: most of Matthew 1 & Luke 1
• Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Christmas Season: Matthew 1–two & Luke 2 & John 1

Not-Biblical Elements in Popular Conceptions of Christmas:

• Combining Details from Matthew & Luke (such every bit depicting both the Matthean wise men and the Lukan shepherds and angels, equally in the card below, and many other Christmas cards, pageants, movies, etc.)
• The "Three Kings": Caspar, Melchior, Balthazar
  • The NT mentions "magi from the East," simply does not give their names, nor say that they were kings, nor say at that place were exactly three of them (read Matt two:ane-12 carefully).
  • Matthew mentions "gifts of gilded, frankincense, and myrrh," which somewhen led to the assumption that these three costly treasures must have been brought, i each, past 3 rich and powerful men.
  • The traditional names are first mentioned in manuscripts and mosaics of the 6th or early 7th centuries.
• The Ox & Ass in a Stable (from St. Francis of Assisi; 1181-1226)
• The Story of the Other Wise Homo (past Henry Van Dyke, 1852-1933; full text online; motion picture version: The Fourth Wise Man, 1985)
• The Lilliputian Drummer Male child (past Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati, and Harry Simeone, 1958; online lyrics; picture version, 1968)

All images borrowed from http://world wide web.earlenesroots.com/christmas.html

Questions for Reflection and Discussion:

1. What is the chief message of the Infancy Narrative in Matthew's Gospel? What is Matthew emphasizing through the way he has told the story?
2. What is the main message of the Infancy Narrative in Luke's Gospel? What is Luke emphasizing through the way he has told the story?
3. Why is the birth of Jesus not narrated in Mark's Gospel? What does Mark say near Jesus' family and heritage?
4. How is the "incarnation" of Jesus told very distinctively in John's Gospel? (encounter esp. John i:14-18)
5. Wait at some Christmas cards: Are the details of their depictions based on Matthew, or Luke, or both, or neither?

Eleven Points Shared by the Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke (from Raymond Brownish, The Nascence of the Messiah, pg. 34):

1. The parents are to exist Mary and Joseph who are "betrothed" (legally bound to be married), merely have not all the same come up to live together or take sexual relations (Matt 1:eighteen; Luke 1:27,34).
2. Joseph is of Davidic descent (Matt one:16, 20; Luke 1:27,32; 2:4).
3. There is an celestial annunciation of the forthcoming birth of the child (Matt 1:xx-23; Luke 1:xxx-35).
4. The conception of the child past Mary is not through intercourse with her husband (Matt 1:twenty,23,25; Luke one:34).
5. The conception is through the Holy Spirit (Matt 1:18,twenty; Luke 1:35).
6. There is a directive from the angel that the kid is to be named Jesus (Matt 1:21; Luke one:31).
7. An angel states that Jesus is to be Savior (Matt i:21; Luke 2:11).
8. The birth of the child takes identify afterwards the parents take come to alive together (Matt ane:24-25; Luke 2:five-6).
9. The birth takes identify at Bethlehem (Matt 2:1; Luke two:4-6).
10. The nascency is chronologically related to the reign (days) of King Herod the Nifty (Matt two:1; Luke 1:5).
11. The child is reared at Nazareth (Matt ii:23; Luke two:39).

See too my collection of
Resources for Prayer and Liturgy during Advent and Christmas
or more detailed analysis of
The Infancy Narratives in Luke'southward Gospel

---

Render to the HOME Folio of Felix Just, South.J.
This page was terminal updated on December 18, 2020
Copyright © 2006--2020

matsonwhempos1944.blogspot.com

Source: https://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Jesus-Birth.htm

Share this post