I decided to examine the nativity accounts myself to see what the mystery is all about. (Spoiler alert: there\u2019s no mystery; they work together perfectly.) I first made two columns on a sheet of paper and listed the main events of each book\u2019s chapter two, and especially the locations of each event. My goal was to match up the events by similar location. I wanted to see if I could find a literal, historical account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Before going further, let\u2019s recap Matthew 2 and Luke 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Matthew\u2019s gospel, the nativity scene is actually in the very last verse of chapter one, where Mary is found to be with child after being betrothed to Joseph. An angel appears to Joseph and informs him that the child is from the Holy Spirit. Then a summary verse is given that He is born. Chapter two verse one tells us that Jesus was born in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In chapter two, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, to Herod, then to Bethlehem, following a star. They give gifts to the \u201cyoung Child,\u201d then depart home secretly to avoid Herod. Joseph is warned to flee to Egypt and the family goes. Herod kills children two years old and under not only in Bethlehem, but up and down the coast in the area. Joseph takes his family to Nazareth in Galilee after Herod\u2019s death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luke chapter two has entirely different events happening, with much more detail surrounding Jesus\u2019 birth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Luke chapter two, Joseph and Mary travel from Nazareth, which is way above Jerusalem, down south to their home town of Bethlehem, which is just outside of Jerusalem, slightly south. There, Jesus is born, we meet the angels singing \u201cGlory in the highest,\u201d and the shepherds come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eight days later, they are in Jerusalem and meet Simeon and Anna, who prophecy of Him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then they return north \u201cto their own city, Nazareth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One thing we see is that Luke records more of the events surrounding Jesus\u2019 birth than Matthew does. Matthew makes only one reference to His birth: \u201cand did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus\u201d (Matt. 1:25).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I tried to connect up the events in similar cities in both chapter 2s and make them belong to each other. I utterly failed in my attempts to merge the two chapters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then I noticed a verse at Luke 2:41 that the family went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover. This is a crucial verse. It helps us understand how the chapters harmonize. Luke 2 events happen first, then on one of their later yearly visits to Jerusalem (one or two years later) the Matthew 2 events happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So all of the events in Luke chapter 2:1-40 happen first. During this time, the wise men mentioned in Matthew 2 see the star and begin their long journey from the east. 1-2 years pass. By the time the holy family makes their yearly trek back to Jerusalem for the Passover and temporarily reside in a relative\u2019s home in the “Hill Country” (where her cousin Elizabeth lives, see Luke 1:36-40), which includes the area around Bethlehem and Jerusalem, chapter 2 of Matthew then comes into play: the wise men make it to Jerusalem at that time, then to Bethlehem where they meet the future ruler, not as a babe, but now as a \u201cyoung child\u201d at a \u201chouse,\u201d not a manger — see this in Matt. 2:9-11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Herod then has children two years old and under killed, based on the timing of the wise men (Matthew 2:16); presumably they saw the star about two years ago, which likely appeared at the time Jesus was born, and it took a long time to travel from the east. Of course, the final verse of Matthew chapter one coincides with Luke\u2019s chapter two account of His birth, both taking place in Bethlehem, since Matthew\u2019s verse is only stating a simple fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is nothing in these two accounts that confuse matters. But if we start with a wrong premise about the chapters, then we\u2019ll end up with confusion. This is true about anything in life, not just the Bible. The two chapters were not meant to be merged accounts, but separate historical accounts occurring at different times in Jesus\u2019 life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If we have seen many images of the wise men kneeling at the foot of a baby in a manger to give gifts, then we\u2019ll certainly be confused when we try to move verses around to make them fit the picture. But the picture is wrong to begin with. The wise men (the Bible doesn\u2019t say how many there were), are not in the scene with the shepherds and angels; they come about two years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there’s one more issue to throw into the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In some translations for Matthew 2:1, such as the KJV, we have “when” Jesus was born in Bethlehem. In other versions, such as the NKJV, we have “after” Jesus was born in Bethlehem. When I looked at an interlinear to look more closely (http:\/\/www.scripture4all.org\/OnlineInterlinear\/NTpdf\/mat2.pdf) I don’t see either word spelled out. I suspect these words were added by the translators to keep the sentence grammatically correct. However, I see “after” used in this translation at the end of the page: https:\/\/wermuthsgreekbook.files.wordpress.com\/2008\/03\/genitive-absolute-pdf.pdf Please note that I am not a student of the Greek New Testament, so this is not a final word on the matter. But “after” makes perfect sense, since the wise men came after Jesus was born, not when He was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The use of “when” in Matthew 2:1 misleads the reader into thinking the birth was quickly followed by the wise men’s arrival. Again, the men visit a “young Child,” not a baby, in a “home,” not a manger. They did not happen immediately one after the other, but with a gap of about 1 year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So we can blame in part the 2:1 translation of “when” Jesus was born connected to the story of the wise men as introducing some difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps the last verse of Matthew 1 should therefore read: “and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2:1 should say, “In the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,” The chapter and verse breaks are not in the manuscripts from which we translate God’s word; they were added by man at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nMy current nativity sequence is: <\/strong>Matt. 1:18-24, Luke 2:1-7, Matt.1:25-2:1a (up to before mention of wise men), Luke 2:8-41, [insert 1-2 year gap], Matt. 2:1b-23.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBelow are the complete verses in the above sequence<\/strong> [World English Bible (WEB)].<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 1:18-24<\/strong>
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, \u201cJoseph, son of David, don\u2019t be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall give birth to a son. You shall name him Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n22 Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
23
\u201cBehold, the virgin shall be with child,
and shall give birth to a son.
They shall call his name Immanuel,\u201d
which is, being interpreted, \u201cGod with us.\u201dIsaiah 7:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luke 2:1-7<\/strong>
1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David\u2019s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; 5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 1:25<\/strong>
25 and didn\u2019t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMatthew 2:1a<\/strong>
1a Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod,<\/p>\n\n\n\nLuke 2:8-41<\/strong>
8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said to them, \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. 11 For there is born to you today, in David\u2019s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.\u201d 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n14
\u201cGlory to God in the highest,
on earth peace, good will toward men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, \u201cLet\u2019s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.\u201d 16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. 17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. 18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, \u201cEvery male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord,\u201d Exodus 13:2, 12), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, \u201cA pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons\u201d (Leviticus 12:8).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord\u2019s Christ. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
29
\u201cNow you are releasing your servant, Master,
according to your word, in peace;
30
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;
32
a light for revelation to the nations,
and the glory of your people Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him, 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, \u201cBehold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn\u2019t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. 41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Insert gap of 1-2 years here before family returns to Jerusalem, per Luke 2:41, and Matt. 2:7 with Matt. 2:16<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 2:1b-23<\/strong>
1b behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 \u201cWhere is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.\u201d 3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, \u201cIn Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,<\/p>\n\n\n\n6
\u2018You Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are in no way least among the princes of Judah;
for out of you shall come a governor
who shall shepherd my people, Israel.\u2019\u201d (Micah 5:2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, \u201cGo and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, \u201cArise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
14 He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, \u201cOut of Egypt I called my son\u201d (Hosea 11:1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
18
\u201cA voice was heard in Ramah,
lamentation, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she wouldn\u2019t be comforted,
because they are no more.\u201d (Jeremiah 31:15)<\/p>\n\n\n\n19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 \u201cArise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child\u2019s life are dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I decided to examine the nativity accounts myself to see what the mystery is all about. (Spoiler alert: there\u2019s no mystery; they work together perfectly.) I first made two columns on a sheet of paper and listed the main events … Continue reading