Christmas Story According to Matthew Christmas Story According to Luke

Jesus was born in a house in Bethlehem, but
an angel appeared and told Joseph to take
his family and flee to Egypt.
An angel of the Lord appeared to
Joseph in a dream, telling him Mary’s child
conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
A star rose and stopped over the place where
Jesus was born. The star leads the wise men
to Jesus.
King Herod sends the wise men
The story begins with Jesus’s genealogy,
relating to Abraham and David.
Joseph and Mary left Nazareth to be
registered in a town called Bethlehem, where
Jesus was born in a stable.
An angel was sent to Mary to inform her she
will conceive a child and name him Jesus.
An angel appeared to the shepherds telling
them of the birth of Jesus.
There is no mention of Herod or wise men,
instead Shepherds.
The story ends with Jesus’s genealogy.
But begins with the birth and importance of
John the Baptiste.

Write a paragraph about how these differences reflect the unique audiences of the respective gospels.

There are quite a few differences seen in the stories according to Matthew and Luke. It is very
obvious that Matthew’s story is heavily written through the eyes of the Jewish. The story begins
with the genealogy that relates him to Abraham and David, as well as Joseph his father, being a
Jewish male. King Herod also orders all children two years and under are killed because he fears
Jesus is the new ‘King of the Jews’. Therefore, I feel the appropriate audience that often reads
Matthew, is written to appeal the Jewish. Having said, I believe the audience of my era, would
account a story which included pieces from both stories, as I always relate the Christmas story
to the nativity scene, which includes both the wise men and the shepherds.

Write an additional paragraph about how your new understandings reveal elements in your personal
fifth gospel.

Looking back at my own person fifth gospel, I see details included from both Matthew and
Luke. My story mainly revolves around the Nativity scene, where Jesus is born in a manger and
the wise men and shepherds all flock to see him. I was enlightened by reading both stories and
seeing the different perspectives, as well as the genealogy of Jesus, as I don’t recall that part
being as significant when I was told the story growing up. The importance of the connection
between Abraham ad David as well as John the Baptist, was a key fact missing from my
personal fifth gospel.