The Messiah Introduced:The Messiah Introduced:

The Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke

The Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke

Matthew and LukeMatthew and Luke

The only two Christian Scripture writers to even mention the birth of Jesus

Mark’s Gospel begins with the ministry of John the Baptist

John’s Gospel begins with a parallel of the Book of Genesis

The only two Christian Scripture writers to even mention the birth of Jesus

Mark’s Gospel begins with the ministry of John the Baptist

John’s Gospel begins with a parallel of the Book of Genesis

Matthew’s Infancy NarrativeMatthew’s Infancy Narrative

Matthew’s primary audience for his Gospel was Jewish converts to Christianity

Thus, he draws parallels between Jesus’ life and events from the Hebrew Bible (O. Test.)

He saw the birth of the Messiah as giving new meaning and fulfilling Biblical prophecies

Matthew’s primary audience for his Gospel was Jewish converts to Christianity

Thus, he draws parallels between Jesus’ life and events from the Hebrew Bible (O. Test.)

He saw the birth of the Messiah as giving new meaning and fulfilling Biblical prophecies

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Matthew’s Infancy Narrative cont.Matthew’s Infancy Narrative cont.

Jesus’ virgin birth and being conceived by the Holy Spirit fulfills the passage from Isaiah 7:14

What Matthew (and other N.Testament writers) does is give the Hebrew Scriptures a “Christological” interpretation

Jesus’ virgin birth and being conceived by the Holy Spirit fulfills the passage from Isaiah 7:14

What Matthew (and other N.Testament writers) does is give the Hebrew Scriptures a “Christological” interpretation

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Matthew’s MagiMatthew’s Magi

Magi = (3) wise men, or kings who bring Jesus gifts

Traveled from the East, possibly Babylonian or Persian astrologers

Guided by a star which was read as a sign of the King of the Jews to be born

Could have been a comet, two planets lined up or possibly an angel

Magi = (3) wise men, or kings who bring Jesus gifts

Traveled from the East, possibly Babylonian or Persian astrologers

Guided by a star which was read as a sign of the King of the Jews to be born

Could have been a comet, two planets lined up or possibly an angel

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Matthew’s Magi (cont)Matthew’s Magi (cont)

Brought 3 gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh

Gold signifies the "divine nature". Frankincense would symbolize the fragrance of resurrection. And, myrrh, would symbolize the fragrance of death

Brought 3 gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh

Gold signifies the "divine nature". Frankincense would symbolize the fragrance of resurrection. And, myrrh, would symbolize the fragrance of death

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Matthew Parallels Jesus with Moses

Matthew Parallels Jesus with Moses

Moses survives murderous attack on children by Pharaoh, Jesus survives murderous attack by Herod

Moses is a child raised in Egypt, Jesus is a child raised in Egypt

Moses is summoned in his adult life to deliver God’s people from slavery, as Jesus is summoned later in life to deliver God’s people from sin’s slavery

Moses survives murderous attack on children by Pharaoh, Jesus survives murderous attack by Herod

Moses is a child raised in Egypt, Jesus is a child raised in Egypt

Moses is summoned in his adult life to deliver God’s people from slavery, as Jesus is summoned later in life to deliver God’s people from sin’s slavery

Luke’s Infancy NarrativeLuke’s Infancy Narrative

Varies significantly from Matthew’s infancy narrative

Where Matthew depicted Jesus’ birth as the Messiah as a king, Luke depicts Jesus’ birth as that of the Messiah as a common man

Varies significantly from Matthew’s infancy narrative

Where Matthew depicted Jesus’ birth as the Messiah as a king, Luke depicts Jesus’ birth as that of the Messiah as a common man

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John the BaptistJohn the Baptist

Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist, being born to aged parents…a common theme in Biblical tradition

Luke is the only N.Test. Writer to point out J. the B. as a blood relative to Jesus

Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist, being born to aged parents…a common theme in Biblical tradition

Luke is the only N.Test. Writer to point out J. the B. as a blood relative to Jesus

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Luke’s Infancy Narrative (cont.)Luke’s Infancy Narrative (cont.)

•Luke is the only one of the four Gospel writers to mention the angel, Gabriel as the messenger of Jesus’ virginal conception

•Luke mentions the date of Jesus birth as related to Augustus Caeser, a Roman Emperor- Matthew mentions Herod, the Jewish ruler.

- this foreshadows the universality of Jesus message (outside of the Jewish faith)