Synchronizing the Nativity Stories

By Tim Sullivan

 

Of the four Gospels, only Matthew and Luke tell the story of the Jesus' life before he began his earthly ministry. But these two accounts differ greatly in the details each one choses to convey.

In the Gospel according to Matthew, the nativity story focuses on Joseph. In Luke, the story focuses on Mary.

The person who only reads Matthew will not know about Gabriel's visitation with Mary, or the circumstances revolving around the birth of John the Baptist. He will not know that angels visited the shepherds in Bethelem, or of Jesus' dedication at the Temple in Jerusalem.

The person who reads only Luke will not know that Gabriel also visited Joseph. He will not know of the wise men from the east who came to honor the Christ child, or that King Herod ordered the slaughter of children trying to eliminate the foretold king. He will not know that the holy family found refuge in Egypt until the death of Herod.

Here is a simple synchronization of Matthew and Luke in the most probable order of event. References to Matthew ("Mt") are in BLUE; references to Luke ("Lk") are in GREEN.

Mt 1:1-25	The lineage of Christ, Abraham to Joseph
Lk 1:1-25	Gabriel and Zacharias (the pregnancy of Elisabeth)
Mt 1:18	Mary’s pregnancy
Lk 1:26-38	Gabriel and Mary (Mary's pregnancy)
Lk 1:39-56	Mary's visit with Elisabeth
Mt 1:18-25	Gabriel gives reassurance to Joseph
Lk 1:57-79	The birth, circumcision, and official naming of John the Baptist
Lk 2:1-5	Joseph and Mary's journey to Bethlehem
Mt 2:1	The birth of Christ
Lk 2:6-7	The birth of Christ
Lk 2:8-20	The angels and the shepherds
Lk 2:21	The circumcision and official naming of Jesus
Lk 2:22-24	The presentation in the Temple in Jerusalem
Lk 2:25-38	The prophecies of Simeon and Anna
Mt 2:1-9	The wise men and King Herod
Mt 2:10-12	The wise men visit the Christ child
Mt 2:13-15	The angel sends the holy family into Egypt
Mt 2:16-18	The slaughter of the innocents
Lk 1:80	The life of young John the Baptist
Mt 2:19-20	The death of Herod and the return of the holy family to Israel
Mt 2:21-23	The holy family's return to Nazareth in Galilee
Lk 2:39-40	The family returns to Nazareth in Galilee
Lk 2:41-50	Jesus at the Temple
Lk 2:51-52	Young Jesus in Nazareth

 

Here is a link to my PowerPoint presentation on this message with illustrations and other interesting facts about the Nativity.

 

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Presented December 13, 2015