Comparing Gospels

Looking at Gospels: Similarities and differences between Matthew and Luke

The first section of this essay will discuss the similarities and differences in Matthew's and Luke’s infancy narratives and their accounts on the genealogy of Jesus.  Starting off with some similarities of the Infancy, An angel foretells Jesus’ birth (Matthew. 1:18-25; Luke. 1:26-38). Both Gospels say Mary was a virgin and Jesus was conceived through the Holy Spirit (Matthew. 1:18; Lk. 1:34-35). Both Gospels say Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew. 2:1; Lk. 2:4-7). Jesus was visited by people when he was born though not the same people in each account. Both Gospels say Joseph accompanied and stayed with Mary and they settle in Nazareth (Matthew. 2:23; Lk. 2:39)

Secondly, the differences presented in the infancy narratives, include that Matthew doesn't write about the Angel appearing to Mary whereas Luke does (Luke. 1:26-38). Matthew mentions an angel appearing to Joseph in a dream but Luke doesn't mention this (Matthew. 1:20-21). In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is born in a barn  (Luke. 2:7), unlike the Gospel of Matthew where he is born in a house (Matthew. 2:11).  In Luke, Angels visit the shepherds (Luke. 2:8-21) and those shepherds visit the family, and in Matthew, he was visited by wise men/magi (Matthew. 2:1-12). Luke takes the time to talk to Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the temple for eight days wait and rituals (Luke. 2:22-38).  Matthew mentions unlike Luke the family escape to Egypt (2:13-15). The Gospel of Luke also talks about Elizabeth and foretells the birth of John the Baptist (Luke. 1:5-25)

The genealogies in Matthew and Luke are integral parts of those Gospels. They are precise documents, each accomplishing the aim of testifying to God's reasoning in the birth of Jesus Christ. The names show us how He fits the requirements as the rightful heir to David's throne. Jesus' genealogy is given in Matthew (Matthew. 1.1FF) and Luke (Luke. 3:23-38). Matthew traces the genealogy from Jesus to Abraham. Luke traces the genealogy from Jesus to Adam. However, there is a good reason to believe that Matthew and Luke are in fact tracing entirely different genealogies (Ehrman, 2013, p.80). Matthew gives Joseph's father as Jacob (Matthew 1:16), while Luke gives Joseph's father as Heli (Luke. 3:23). Matthew traces the line through David's son Solomon (Matthew 1:6), while Luke traces the line through David's son Nathan (Luke. 3:31). Between David and Jesus, the only names the found in both genealogies are Shealtiel and Zerubbabel (Matthew. 1:12; Luke. 3:27).

Matthew did not intend to include every person in the lineage, but only those necessary to establish the connection from Abraham to David to Christ, using groups of fourteen names to aid in memorization (Ehrman, 2013, p.80). Jesus, while not Joseph's actual son by heredity, became the legal heir to David when Joseph married Mary and adopted Him. Luke's genealogy reveals the physical genealogy of Jesus. The list may be through Mary's side (Ehrman, 2013, p.82), but because Matthew omits some of the names, Luke's genealogy could be Joseph's from another branch.

Works Cited

Ehrman, B. D. (2013). A Brief Introduction To The New Testament (3rd ed.)

NewYork: Oxford University Press.

The Synoptic Gospels presented side-by-side. (n.d.). Retrieved from                 http://www.para-gospel.com/full

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