But they differ in an important way: Matthew follows the line of David’s son Solomon, while Luke follows the line of Nathan, another Son of David. In such a parallel universe, the most careful skeptic would rightly suggest doubts about that tradition. But even if we reconcile the census with Christ’s birth, there is still a problem. There is no mention of the census, nor is any other explanation given as to why Mary and Joseph are in Bethlehem. By: Andrea Perch Matthew Luke Announcement of the immaculate conception Announcement of the immaculate conception Joseph was planning on dismissing Mary until an angel announced to him that her baby was to be the Saviour and he must name him Emmanuel, meaning “God is with us”. Reconciling the Nativity Accounts. Hormiga December 16, 2018. A number of people have commented (both on this site and, in particular, at the end of my rejesus review) about the way that BBC1's recent The Nativity showed the magi arriving at the stable very shortly after the birth and the appearance of the shepherds. It is a wonderful time of year. But because some details are omitted from either Matthew or Luke’s account does not mean the accounts aren’t accurate in what they do relate.

Literalists need not worry: reconciling Jesus genealogies in Matthew and Luke But there are many unsophisticated Christians out there who think it absolutely is necessarily so — who take the Bible very seriously indeed as a literal and accurate record of history and hence as evidence supporting their religious beliefs. Like the Gospel of Luke, the birth of Jesus according to Matthew is in Bethlehem.

Matthew and Luke appear to have two branches of a Nativity story that got started sometime before ~80 CE and then diverged, presumably as the story was developed by different groups in different places.

Matthew and Luke appear to have two branches of a Nativity story that got started sometime before ~80 CE and then diverged, presumably as the story was developed by different groups in different places. The nativity stories reflect these differences in purpose. Nativity narratives appear only in Matthew and Luke, which are dated, by the scholarly consensus, c.75-80 CE (cf. He was a legitimate claimant to the throne of Israel. Luke has the shepherds, who, by Jesus' time, were looked down upon. Their narrative stories about Jesus’ birth are different. Forgiveness is hard. Matthew and Luke both tell us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and … While there is so much contained in these Gospels surrounding this… Then scholars have a dispute regarding the birth of Jesus Christ because of Luke and Matthew! Wise men from the East (Magi), after seeing and following a "star" (almost certainly an angel) for two years, seek Herod the Great's assistance in Jerusalem (Matthew 2:1 - 3).The appearance of such dignitaries, in a huge caravan, causes great concern for Herod and the city. Both Matthew and Luke provide genealogies of Jesus that confirm he was a descendent of David—therefore, a legitimate Messiah. In Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10 we have two accounts of Jesus healing a centurion's servant. Matthew traces the line through David’s son Solomon (Matthew 1:6), while Luke traces the line through David’s son Nathan (Luke 3:31).