The Messiah Introduced: The Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke
Jan 12, 2015
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)