For the first half of Matthew 2, we get an account of what happened immediately after the Jesus' birth. The three wise men from the east see a star in the night sky and wonder at its meaning. They then travel towards it and stop to see King Herod to find out more about it. They know that this is sign that a new "king of the Jews" has been born. However, King Herod is not thrilled to find his throne and power threatened. He then asks that the wise men come back to see him and tell him of the whereabouts of such a king after they go to see him. Upon finding the baby in Bethlehem, they worship him and leave him gifts. However, they are warned in a dream not to return to Herod and so make their way home by another route.
Through another dream, Joseph, Jesus' earthly father, is warned of the coming demise of his son and is instructed to leave their home for Egypt where they are to remain until Herod is no longer a threat. The rest of the passage tells of Joseph acting on this dream and moving his family to Egypt where they remain until Herod's death. He then moves back to Israel and settles in Nazareth.
Littered throughout this version of Jesus' birth is the idea that he is the fulfillment of the prophecies of old. No less than four times in these short 23 verses is Jesus referred to in this context. This builds a premise throughout the entire book of Matthew that Jesus is one the true Messiah, the one that was prophesied about, the one meant to save Israel and the world from sin and death. This also begins the idea that without him, man is not complete and cannot be completely blameless and worthy of God.
In Luke 2, we see a much different account. Luke's version begins before the birth of Jesus and walks us through the movements of Joseph and Mary leading up to it.
Joseph and Mary travel to Bethlehem to partake in the ordered census of the time. It is here that she gives birth to a son and laid him in a manger. It then tells of a heavenly choir and angels that visit some local shepherds nearby. These shepherds are told of the miraculous birth and the peace and glory he will bring. The shepherds then go to see the child for themselves and declare it to be true.
Luke's account of this event is riddled with hope and joy. It is no wonder that this version is the popular of the two. Luke emphasizes that there is now a savior on Earth that will bring peace and harmony. He tells that this peace will include everyone, leaving no one out. This is telling of what Jesus will do for mankind as a whole. It is key that he is including everyone here, not just the Jewish community.
It is also important to note that Luke, is the only non-Jewish writer of the gospels. He is an gentile. Therefore, in the community that he lives and works in during the time of this writing, he is an outcast or outsider. This makes the peace and hope that Jesus will spread even more important to him. This is also why we don't see him quoting Jewish law or prophecies as Matthew does. Matthew has been born and raised in this culture and knows it well. Luke, on the other hand, is experiencing the love and hope found in Jesus in a whole other way.
The differences here are vast, showing very different attributes of Jesus and his coming life. While one declares him to be the completion of the covenant made for the Jews, the other shouts that he is a savior to all. However, through both versions we can see the Jesus is meant for this position to be the Messiah and Savior. It is both prophesied and told by angels of his coming and arrival.
Since it has been the most influential English translation in history, I will refer to the King James Version of the Christian Bible.
It is important to note that the book of Matthew precedes the book of Luke. Despite this, the most famous passage describing Jesus’ birth is the one from Luke. To understand why, I will now compare and contrast each version.
In Matthew 2:1-23, the story of the nativity focuses mostly on the aftermath. Verses 1-12 describe how the three wise men of the East traveled to Jerusalem and met with King Herod to inquire about the birth of the “King of the Jews.” Since Herod is the earthly king, this phrasing disturbs him greatly. He instructs the wise men to go to Bethlehem and see the child, then report back to him. However, the wise men, after presenting their gifts to the newborn child, do not return to Herod because they were “warned of God in a dream.”
On the night of Jesus’ birth, the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and instructs him:
Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
The rest of this passage explains how Joseph, Mary, and Jesus remained in Egypt until Herod’s death. Back in Bethlehem prior to his death, Herod had slaughtered all children under age two. Joseph eventually settles his family in Nazareth because of God’s prophecy.
This version of the nativity deemphasizes the particulars of Jesus’ birth in favor of discussing the persecution Jesus would face throughout his life. From a theological standpoint, this version implies that Jesus’ birth stood in direct opposition to the worldly order of Jerusalem. This foreshadows the pushback Jesus will receive from his own people when it is revealed that he is the Messiah. This version also highlights the brutal nature of man without God, as represented in Herod.
In Luke 2:1-20, the nativity is described in more specific terms. The first several verses provide backstory, indicating that Joseph led his pregnant wife out of Nazareth and into Bethlehem on a journey to pay taxes to the Romans. He decides to stop at Bethlehem because he is a descendant of David, a fact that is not mentioned in the Matthew version. In verse 7, Mary finally gives birth:
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
This suggests that Jesus is destined to live a humble life because of his humble beginnings. Meanwhile, shepherds out in the fields surrounding Bethlehem are greeted by a “multitude of the heavenly host” who say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” This famous verse indicates that Jesus’ birth will herald in an unprecedented age of peace and harmony. This joyful depiction of the nativity contrasts with the Matthew version. The theological point, then, is to communicate the hope that Jesus’ birth bestowed upon mankind.
Each version of the nativity emphasizes a particular aspect of Jesus’ destiny. While Matthew focuses on the world’s resistance to accepting Jesus as the Messiah, Luke underscores the spiritual hope and peace that Jesus’ arrival will bring.
Earlier, I explained how the passage from Luke is more often referenced in popular discourse about Jesus’ birth. Based on the discussion above, I would suggest that this is the case because Luke includes more details about the actual birth coupled with a hopeful message. Even so, modern visions of the nativity in popular culture tend to neglect the particulars of either version in favor of a tidier narrative.
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