Birth Accounts in Matthew and Luce

Both gospels of Matthew and Luce are synoptic gospels. That means that they have a lot of similar material in them that is represented in the same way. On the other hand, in the first chapters of Matthew and Luke each author gives his version of the birth of Jesus' birth. The differences in both of these stories reveal the "synoptic problem" and the difficulties associated with trying to harmonize the various accounts of the events in the life of Jesus in the gospels.

In the beginning of Matthews's gospel, he represents us his vision of the genealogy of Jesus and then tells the birth story of Jesus. He told us that when Mary's husband Joseph found out that she was pregnant, he wanted to divorce her. However, there was an angel that told Joseph not to, as that child was from the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, according to the prophecies. Magi came from the East to Jerusalem to find Him, because they saw a star. King Herod tried to find out where Jesus was and asked Magi to come back and inform him. The Wiseman followed the star and came to the house where Jesus and Mary were; and gave Him presents. Then, there was a vision to Joseph where he was told to go to Egypt with Jesus & Mary. Magi had a vision too, and were told not to come back to Herod. When the king realized that the Magi outwitted him, he ordered to kill all the boys in Bethlehem up to 2 yr. of age. After the death of Herod an angel came to Joseph and told him to go back to Israel.

Matthew wrote the book to show people that Jesus was the expected Messiah; that He is going to rescue people from the bondage and sit on the throne of David. This way, Jesus, the King, needed to have a father called David. Therefore, Matthew divides His genealogy into 3 parts of 14. That refers to the name David that in Hebrew is equal to the number 14(dwd = 4+6+4). Matthew also uses the birth of Jesus as a fulfillment of the prophesies from the Old Testament. Jesus, according to Matthew and his references to the prophecies from the Old Testament, had to be born in Bethlehem; be born by a virgin (Mt. 1:23); and be given presents, as he was the King of Israel (Mt. 2:11). Jesus also had to have a star that would represent his birth. However, Luce's point of view appears to be totally different.

Luce doesn't give us the genealogy of Jesus and starts his story with a census. Therefore, Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem, where Mary gave birth to Jesus. Then the angel came to the shepherds and told them about Jesus' birth so they could go and see him. After that Jesus was presented in the temple, where Simeon predicted the great things He will do. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the law, they returned to Nazareth. In contrast to Matthew, in Luce's story there in no attempts to divorce and no vision of an angel to Joseph; there is no king killing babies, no star and no presents given to Jesus. However, Luce is the only synoptic, that accompanies the coming of Jesus with the words of happiness and glory. He sees the birth of Jesus more as a great present from God, then as a fulfillment of the prophecies. According to Luce, the main point of Jesus' birth is a salvation of the sinners.

Though there are a lot of similarities in both gospels, there are far more differences that lead to the "synoptic problem". For example, according to Mt.2: 1, Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the time of King