The Two Very Different Stories of Jesus' Birth

The story of Jesus' birth is told millions of times during the Christmas season. Yet despite its popularity, many don't realize that only two gospels narrate the birth of Jesus Christ: Matthew and Luke. Even fewer still realize that Luke's gospel contains very different details concerning the circumstances surrounding Jesus birth compared to Matthew's gospel. In this video we will take a deep dive into the birth narratives of both Matthew and Luke and see just how different these two gospels are!

#Gospels #Christianity #Christmas

- Religiosity Plus

[sandeeprajkumar]

Each of the four Gospels presents Jesus Christ from a different point of emphasis.
Matthew, being a Levite, emphasizes Jesus as the Messiah, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Each of the subtleties of his design supports this primary theme. His genealogy begins with the "first Jew, " Abraham, and continues through David and the royal line to the legal father of Jesus, Joseph.
As a customs official, Matthew was skilled in shorthand, and focuses on what Jesus said, and includes the extensive discourses, which he probably was able to take down verbatim.
Matthew's first miracle is the cleansing of a leper, a Jewish metaphor for sin itself. Matthew concludes with the resurrection, also a distinctive Jewish preoccupation.
Luke was a Gentile and a doctor, and his Gospel reflects a very distinctive point of view, emphasizing Jesus as the Son of Man. His genealogy begins with Adam, the first man. From Abraham to David, his list is identical to that of Matthew. However, when he gets to David, he doesn't track through Solomon (the first surviving son of Bathsheba) but through a different son, Nathan (the second surviving son of Bathsheba). He continues through to Heli, the father of Mary. (Joseph is the son-in-law of Heli). As a Gentile, Luke's emphasis is different. His emphasis is Christ's humanity; he focuses on what Jesus felt. His first miracle is the expulsion of a demon, a very human concern. Luke concludes with the promise of the giving of the Holy Spirit, which is a natural bridge to his subsequent volume, The Book of Acts .

Mark is the amanuensis (secretary) for Peter, and he emphasizes Jesus as the obedient Servant of YHWH. His is the only Gospel with no concern for pedigree or genealogy. He focuses on what Jesus did ; it deals in graphic images, almost like a movie or video shooting script. Mark concludes with the final visual appearance, the Ascension.

John had a very distinctive view, emphasizing Jesus as the Son of God. He focuses on who Jesus was . His "genealogy" is that of the Preexistent One, constituting his opening verses. His Gospel is organized around seven miracles, seven discourses, and seven "I AM" statements
John's first miracle involves the use of the water of purification being changed to wine at Cana, a private demonstration to the disciples that Jesus was preeminent even over the Levitical priesthood. John concludes with the promise of Jesus' return, and becomes the appropriate prequel to John's final tome, The Revelation .

It is interesting that each time we encounter the "super-angels" (variously called cherubim or seraphim ) that surround the Throne of God, we note that there are four "faces" involved: a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle.
It is interesting that each of these "faces" are suggestive of each of the four Gospels: Matthew, presenting the Lion of the Judah; Mark, the ox (the classic emblem of servanthood); Luke, the Son of Man; and John, the Son of God in the heavens.
The Bible is an amazing treasure hunt.

[dylankahler]

Luke is Mary’s and Mathew’s is Joseph. The last part says son of not begat. Mary was from David’s line in blood. Joseph was the heir and king and he adopted Jesus as son. So Jesus had the adopted right as Joseph’s son and the blood of David from Mary. Like everything in the Bible, it is perfect.

[everseekingwisdom]

You left out how no census ever would want you to report from your birth place lol especially for taxes they want to know where you are right now

[thespiritguru]

Another great video Religiosity Plus! Always look forward to what you will release next. Very well presented and easy to watch and listen to. Keep up the great productions!

[simonpeterogwal]

At the beginning of his gospel, Luke made it clear that he's not an eye witness and that his work was a result of "careful investigation". Sometimes the truth depends on the source of information one happens to land on. But the important thing in my opinion, is whether Jesus is the Messiah and his birth was indeed in fulfillment of the scripture.

[FocusAccount_]

Story one: Tyler went to Burger King to buy his sister a whopper because she was bothering him about it. He then stopped by Walmart to buy himself a book. When he returned, his sister was angry because the food was cold so he fled from her room.

Story two: Tyler left one day from his house and stopped at Burger King, Walmart, and Starbucks. When he returned, he showed his sister all the things he purchased but swiftly left the room, leaving with nothing but the scratches his sister gifted him back.

Note: All of these things happened, they are both accurate accounts. They do not contradict, one simply leaves out information and one adds information.

Moral of the story: Don’t keep your sister waiting when she’s hungry.

[sardi]

Mary and Joseph were quite poor. We know this because they brought two turtle doves instead of a lamb to
his presentation in the temple (what you called the purification, in this video). I doubt they owned a camel. I’ve always thought they made the trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Joseph walking and Mary riding a donkey. Also, I’ve heard that Mary likely walked to visit Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist. It’s about 85 miles and probably took her over a week each way. Mama Mary definitely was one tough lady!

[jonathanhabtegiorgis]

Great video! I think the only think it’s missing is the idea that Matthew wrote Jesus’s genealogy through Joseph, while Luke wrote the genealogy through Mary. From what I have studied, in Hebrew culture they memorize names of their father and their fathers that come before. I love the fact that was added about the 141414. I didn’t know that! However, I believe Luke went against the cultural approach and followed Mary’s genealogy since she is the only parent to actually share blood ties with Jesus. When looking at the genealogy from both books they are the same (outside of where they start) until they reach Dawit. After Dawit Matthew says Solomon, while in Luke it says Nathan. I don’t think it was a mistake, I believe it was done on purpose to prove Jesus was the promised one from both Mary and Joseph. Satisfying the cultural traditions and their true blood ties with Mary and God seen in Luke!

[Abillah]

There's a chapter in the Qur'an titled 'Mary' which explains the birth of Jesus Christ.
Actually... Mary is the ONLY female to be mentioned in the Qur'an.

[patbilek]

Fascinating! So glad you're back with another video. Love learning more about the secrets hidden within the gospels

[whitwhit]

Which version do you like better? Weird that there are so many differences, but the core is the same, which is the most important. Woohoo Jesus!

[geraldmeehan]

Excellent video. The gospels of Matthew and Luke are in fact the only 2 books in entire NT that have birth narrative

[annmarshall]

The birth of Jesus starts in Luke and ends in Luke with Matthew appropriately placed in between. Two gospels, one story.

[lisawyatt]

From my understanding the book of Matthew was the only gospel that was written in Hebrew, compared to the language the other gospels were written in Greek. If this is possibly true, then wouldn't the interpretation between the two languages read differently anyway? I'm just curious, your intake in this video was quite interesting. The book of Matthew is one of my favorite books of the gospels to read, the other is John. Blessings to you!!!

[savedbygrace]

Matthew 13:15
“For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”

[mammavicki]

Great video as always. I'd be interested in knowing more differences between the gospels. Pretty cool to do a side by side analysis.

[danaleanne]

Another thing you didn't mention is the fact that Yeshua's (Jesus) birthday is never given .The fact is if you study the date dec.25, you will find that most pagun gods are said to be born on this day. Question: Why did they give him a pagun birthday date .?

[bigjoe]

Just found ya man love hearing about the things that aren't in the Bible but still touch on Jesus and the times

[jgrahamiii]

Take the time to actually count the names listed in the third group of 14 in Mathew. If the Joseph listed there is Jesus' father as stated in this video, then there are only 13 generations from David to Jesus. The word translated "husband" can also be translated "father". As Mary is Jesus' human parent, it is through her that the throne of David must come, and not her husband. Luke, however, shows the genealogy of Joseph, Mary's husband which is important not for Jesus's immediate claim to the throne of David, but for the legal requirement for him to be established as being from the House of David also. The Book of Numbers (Ch 27) lays out the way a woman may inherit, and for Mary to retain the claim of a direct descendant of David, she would have to marry someone who was also of the House of David, hence the establishing that Joseph her husband was also of the House of David.
Most of the events recorded in Luke occur shortly after His birth, and the events recorded in Mathew (the arrival of the Magi, for example) occur when Jesus is about a year and a half old. The two gospels are not of the same identical events: Mathew shows Him as a King with a legal claim to His ancestors' throne, and Luke shows Him as a Man among men. In reading the Bible, and the Gospels in particular, do not confuse identical events with similar ones. Too often the casual reader wants to make them the same, but this will give rise to supposed errors and conflicts when there are none.

[lanabowers]

Matthew's lineage goes from Abiud--Mary's line. Luke's goes from Rhesa--Joesph's line. Matthew--27 generations of 40 years...from Solomon. Patriarchal--father's line. Luke--40 generations of 25 years...from Nathan. Matriarchal---mother's line. Both werw sons of Zerubbabel. Mary & Joseph also were related. Joseph was Mary's great-aunt Gadat's son. The birth story in Matthew is Jesus' actual birth into the world. Luke's story takes place 12 years later, in 6 AD. Luke is not making one of his alleged errors. It is about Jesus' 2d birth into the community. When the David was crowned, he was 'born' as the adopted 'Son of God', according to the words of the liturgy of coronation found in the 2d Psalm. When Mary 'brought him forth' she was following the symbolism in which the boy was separated from his mother. When he was 'wrapped in cloths, ' he was being clothed in the ceremonial veatment. This is the year when the census was taken. Quirinius ordered the census, & he was never governor of Syria when Herod was alive. The census was a time when people had to register their property, & they weren't required to travel all over the country to do it. Jesus was born on Sunday March 1, 7BC in Bethlehem of Judea, a residential complex a kilometer south of Qumran. It was originally a palace for Hasmonean royalty, it was called the Queen's house. Also, because animals were stabled there, it was called the 'Manger'. When Joeph was told to 'flee into Egypt', it was not the literal Egypt. When the Egyptian Therapeuts were in Qumran, it was called 'Egypt', & Joseph with them was called 'Joseph in Egypt'. This was a suitable place to hide. The caves were already used as places for solitary meditation, & there were so many in the limestone cliffs that it was possible to stay undetected for a long time. The 'Gabriel' that told Joseph to takeMary as his wife was Simeon the Abiathar Priest. Basically, he told Joseph to treat the 1st marriage as if it were the 2d one, the binding one, because Jesus was conceived before the 1st marriage, which began the trial period. The part in the story about there being 'no room in the inn' means that Mary & Joseph were in the married state, & were not allowed into the KATALYMA, the upper room, the sacred dining chamber. They were not allowed into the highest form of communion, reserved for separated celibates. The meaning of the 'shepherds in the field' scenario is this: Down at Ain Feshkha, the 'farm', the pastors or 'shepherds' were meeting for the equinox The 'angel of the Lord' Simeon-Gabriel came to them & announced the new regime & and that the 12 year old Jesus would continue the succession. The ministers sang a hymn of praise, & declared the new policy: "Peace on earth". I hope this has been helpful in understanding the true events surrounding Jesus' birth, & also dispelling all of the supernatural elements.