1. A Closer Look Refer to Lk (Ch. 1 & 2) & Mt: (Ch. 1 & 2)
Infancy Narratives
A Closer Look
Refer to Lk (Ch. 1 & 2) &
Mt: (Ch. 1 & 2)

2. Similarities in Matthew and Luke
Examples:
Both in the time of Herod
Mary is a virgin
Jesus is conceived through the Holy Spirit
Jesus is identified as the Son of David
Name of Jesus imposed by heaven
Jesus is a Saviour
Jesus born in Bethlehem, after Mary and Joseph have been living together as man and wife
Joseph, Mary and Jesus settle in Nazareth

3. Differences in Matthew and Luke
Angel appears to Joseph to tell him of Mary’s impending birth of Jesus (1:20)
Jesus born in a house (1:10)
Magi from the East follow a star (2:1)
Angel appears to Joseph, after Jesus is born, & tells them to flee to Egypt (2:13-15)
Jesus’ birth is fulfilling Old Testament prophesies
LUKE
Angel appears to Mary to tell her of impending birth of Jesus (1:26)
Jesus born in a manger (2:7)
Angels appear to shepherds in the fields (2:9-16)
Mary & Joseph go to Bethlehem for the census before the birth of Jesus (2:4-5)
Jesus had fulfilled what the Holy Spirit had revealed to Simeon (prophet outside the Temple)

4. Structure and Emphasis in Matthew
Being a Jewish Christian, Matthew’s concern is to show Jesus as fulfilling the prophesies and hopes of the Jewish people

5. Jesus is compared to Moses:
1. Matthew models his account on the birth of Moses - the most important religious authority in Judaism
2. Jesus escapes the massacre of the infants (Mt 2:16) as Moses did (Ex 2:3)
3. They both travel to Egypt (compare Ex 4:19 and Mt 2:19)
4. Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt saving them (Ex ch. 12 & 13) ….Jesus will save his people from their sins (Mt 1:21)
5. Moses is seen as the teacher and Law-giver in Judaism – he receives the Law of God (10 commandments) on Mount Sinai, and teaches the people of Israel….Jesus is shown as a teacher and Law-giver – he teaches from a mountain (eg Mt ch. 5)

6. Jesus is compared to Moses: Purpose
1. By parallelling Jesus with Moses Matthew is emphasising Jesus’ great importance for the Jewish people
2. Matthew presents Jesus as the “New Moses” - teacher and Law-giver who has authority from God. He is the “fulfilment” of the law and therefore the messiah the Jews have been waiting for.

7. Matthew use of Prophesy
Matthew structures his narrative around the Jewish scriptures ...he does this 5 times – see (1:18-25; 2:1-12; 2:13-15; 2:16-18; 2:19-23)

8. Matthew use of Prophesy: Purpose
To reassure the Jewish audience – they do not lose their Jewish heritage by following Christ
Matthew shows that all the events surrounding Jesus happened in order to fulfil what was written in the prophets and he is therefore the fulfilment of Jewish hopes.

9. Matthew includes the Visitors from the East
Matthew depicts important visitors from the east – therefore Gentiles - greeting and honouring the infant Jesus

10. Matthew includes the Visitors from the East: Purpose
Showing that Gentiles were accepting Jesus – indicates his significance – they are the first to recognise Jesus as King of the Jews.
They may have been kings reverencing Jesus – indicates Jesus’ divinity being honoured by earth’s kings.
This passage is consoling to Jewish Christian’s at the time (who were being excommunicated from the Jewish community), because even at his birth gentiles rather than Jews were accepting Jesus.

11. Matthews primary concerns
To show Jesus represents both:
CONTINUITY-(Jesus fulfills the Law and prophecies about the Messiah)
and
DISCONTINUITY –(Jesus establishes a new Church)
The GOOD NEWS is not only for the Jews but for the whole world (eg seen in Wise Men at birth)

12. In Summary………..
Matthew has Jesus primarily concerned with the salvation of Israel (15:21 – 28)
Matthew is also concerned with the Law and how Jesus fulfills the Law
Matthews theology of salvation is that the Good News was firstly given to the Jews, has been rejected by them and is now offered to the Gentiles.
Geography shows this: Jesus begins ministry in Galilee, meets disciples there (Jewish territory) then sends them out to the whole world (ie. from Jewish to pagan/Gentile territory)

13. Structure and Emphasis in Luke
Luke, writing predominantly for Gentile Christians, emphasises salvation for all people – especially the oppressed, the poor, outcasts, sinners……

14. Luke compares the Birth of Jesus to the birth of John the Baptist:
Read 1:5-25, 57-80
EG: both births are foretold by the angel Gabriel; both are born under the influence of the Holy Spirit, both are named through divine inspiration, both will do God’s work.

15. Luke compares the Birth of Jesus to the birth of John the Baptist: Purpose
To demonstrate the transition of one epoch (period of history) – the Epoch of Israel – represented by John the Baptist to a new epoch – the Christian Epoch – represented by Jesus.
Luke wishes the reader to recognise that Jesus and John are “twin agents of God’s salvation.”
The stories not only parallel each other, there is “step-parallelism” used as a literary devise – in order to reveal the significance of who Jesus is.
EG: John is great in the sight of the Lord (1:15), Jesus will be called the Lord (2:11); John will be filled with the Holy Spirit (1:15), Jesus is born in the Holy Spirit (1:35)

16. Luke’s Structure stresses symbolism:
Shepherds: Shepherds were a poor, and despised class of people – their occupation did not allow for obeying all Jewish laws (eg time for prayer and cleanliness) – therefore they were considered sinners.
Purpose: In contrast to Matthew (who depicts wealthy and influential people greeting Jesus) Luke has the poor and sinners greeting the child…..showing that Jesus has come for all people, the poor and sinful included.

17. Luke’s Structure stresses symbolism:
No Room: Not only are the lowly attracted to Jesus, but Jesus himself assumed the condition of the lowly –
Purpose: To show that Jesus was born poor and homeless and therefore is identified with them.

18. Luke’s Structure stresses symbolism:
Manger: Jesus is placed in a manger – the trough out of which the animals feed.
Purpose: To accentuate his poverty further.
This is also symbolic that just as animals feed from a manger, humanity is going to be fed by Jesus

19. Luke stresses Great Joy
Luke’s writing is joyful – Luke’s characters are spirit-filled people rejoicing over what God has done for them.
EG: The angels proclaim to the shepherds “good news of a great joy which will come to all people” (2:10); Many of the characters bless, or praise God for what he has done for them – Mary proclaims: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.” (1:46-47)

20. Luke stresses Great Joy: Purpose
Luke is living in a time when many Gentiles are converting to Christianity – the message of Jesus is spreading out to the world – Luke depicts this as a joyful event because a “Saviour” has been born for “all people.”

21. Luke’s major Themes & Concerns
Salvation is UNIVERSAL- everyone including poor and Gentiles are invited into the Kingdom of God
eg. Jesus born in poverty; shepherds visiting
MESSIANIC JOY –
eg. Magnificat; angels singing; shepherds joy; Elizabeths joy
3. Profile of WOMEN –
eg. Mary – visit by angel; song of praise
HOLY SPIRIT –
eg. Jesus, John the Baptist, Elizabeth, Zechariah all filled with the Holy Spirit