1. The Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke

2. Mary is “a virgin betrothed” to Joseph.
Matthew
Luke
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, Gabriel is sent to Joseph and Mary in Nazareth.
Mary is “a virgin betrothed” to Joseph.
Angel informs Mary that she will bear a son, and God has chosen his name, Jesus.
Angel informs Mary that her conception will be by the Holy Spirit.
Angel tells Mary about Elizabeth's pregnancy, and Mary sets out for “a town of Judah” to visit Zechariah and Elizabeth.
Matthew calls his writing “ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but the couple did not live together.
Joseph a “righteous” man and “son of David” decides to divorce Mary quietly.
Angel of the lord appears to Joseph in a dream and explains that the child was conceived through the holy spirit.

3. Child’s virgin birth takes place to fulfill a prophecy from Isaiah.
Matthew
Luke
God decides child’s name, Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins.”
Child’s virgin birth takes place to fulfill a prophecy from Isaiah.
Child also receives the name Emmanuel, “God is with us.”
Joseph takes Mary “into his home” and has no relations with her until Jesus is born.
Jesus is born in “Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod.
Magi go to Herod to find out where the Messiah is to be born.
Mary worships God with canticle, and remains with Elizabeth for three months before returning home.
Caesar Augustus announces enrollment, the first enrollment, when Quirinius is governor of Syria.
Joseph and Mary leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem to be enrolled, because there was no room for them in the inn.
An angel of the Lord tells shepherds “in the area” that “in the city a savior has been born,” who is the Messiah.

4. Magi present gifts of gold, frankincense, myrrh
Matthew
Luke
Herod learns the approximate time of the Messiah’s birth from the magi, and asks them to return to him when they find him.
Magi follow star to the “house” where Mary and the child are. [as the “home”]
Magi present gifts of gold, frankincense, myrrh
Magi are warned in a dream no to return to Herod.
Joseph is warned in a dream to flee to Egypt with the child and Mary, to avoid Herod’s attempt to destroy the child.
A “multitude of the heavenly host” appears with the angel, and praises God.
Shepherds got to Bethlehem, and tell Mary what they were told.
On the eighth day, Jesus is circumcised and given his name.
Mary “purifies” herself by waiting the required number of days (forty), then takes Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to be consecrated (as first-born) to the Lord.

5. Joseph is warned in a dream to leave Egypt and return to Israel.
Matthew
Luke
Joseph takes his family to Egypt, staying until Herod dies, fulfilling a prophecy from Hosea, “Out of Egypt I called my son”.
Herod orders the death of al the boys two years and under in and around Bethlehem bases on the time given to him by the magi, fulfilling a prophecy from Jeremiah.
Joseph is warned in a dream to leave Egypt and return to Israel.
Joseph is warned in a dream not to go to Judea, because Archelaus (Herods son) is there, so he goes to Nazareth in Galilee.
Simeon, a “righteous and devout” man, identifies the infant Jesus as the Messiah, and tells Mary and Joseph about the child’s destiny.
Anna, the prophetess, comes forward and speaks “about the child”.
Joseph and Mary return to Nazareth after they have fulfilled the prescriptions of the law,” and Jesus grows up there.

6. The “12” Points of Agreement
Matthew
Luke 1
Jesus birth is related to the reign of Herod the Great.
2.1
1:5 2
Mary is a virgin who has not yet come to live with her husband.
1:18
1:27,34 3
Joseph is from the house of David.
1:16,20
1:27 2:4 4
An angel from heaven pronounces the coming birth of Jesus
1:20-21
1:28-30 5
Jesus is said to be the son of David.
1:1
1:32 6
Jesus conception takes place through the Holy Spirit.
1:18,20
1:35 7
Joseph is not involved in Jesus conception.
1:18-25
1:34 8
The name “Jesus” is given by heaven before birth.
1:21
1:31 9
Jesus “will save” or is a “savior”
2:11 10
Jesus is born after Joseph and Mary begin living together.
1:24-25
2:4-7 11
Jesus is born in Bethlehem
2:1 12
Jesus settles, along with Mary and Joesph in Nazareth.
2:22-23
2:39,51