Why does Matthew and Luke
write different accounts of the birth of Jesus?

Why does Matthew and Luke
write different accounts of the birth of Jesus?

Q. According to Matthew, Jesus was born in a house in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:11).  They immediately left in a panic to Egypt because an angel told them that Herod was going to try to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:13).  Afterwards, they are going to return to Bethlehem, but decide to go to Nazareth instead to avoid danger (Matthew 2:22-23).

But . . . according to Luke, Mary and Joseph were from Nazareth and went to Bethlehem only for a census (Luke 2:4).  Instead of being born in a house, Jesus was born in a manger because there was no room in an Inn (Luke 2:7).  After the birth, they waited only for Mary to go through ritual purification, whereupon they went to Jerusalem to sacrifice two birds (Luke 2:22-24).  After that, they went immediately home to Nazareth (Luke 2:39).  Which record is correct?

(Submitted by: C. T. )

A. As concerning your question about the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem and the seeming discrepancy between the accounts in Matthew and Luke, you asked which is the correct account. As always in the Bible, both accounts are correct because they speak of two different time periods.

The Luke account is the actual event of Christ's birth in the manger (Luke 2:1-39) .

The sequence is as follows, (verse six), Mary completed nine months and gave birth to Jesus in a manger, (verse 7), because there was no room in the Inn.

The shepherds were told by an angel (note: no star or wise men here) to go to the birth with Mary and Joseph present (Luke 2:16). The shepherds came and saw Christ's birth and left rejoicing. On the eighth day, Jesus was circumcised, and after 40 days as the Law required (Leviticus 12:1-8), they left for Jerusalem to make an offering for the birth of Christ. After that, they returned to Galilee to their own city, Nazareth (Luke 2:39). This completes the actual birth of Christ. No wise men there.

About a year or so later, Mary and Joseph were back in Bethlehem to complete the census. Notice Matthew 2:1. Jesus was already born. The wise men were led by a star, and they came to Herod, the king. Herod asked them what time did the star appear? It took them, from the actual birth of Christ in Luke 2, over a year before the wise men got to Herod (A totally different time period from the birth of Jesus).

The wise men were not present at Christ's birth as pictures of Christmas contend.

Continuing the account, Herod said after you see Jesus, let me know because I want to worship Him. The star was still shining, and brought the wise men to Jesus who at this time was a young child and living in a house (Matthew 2:11). Also Mary was only there with Jesus, no Joseph, as at the time of his birth in the manger (Luke 2).

After they saw the young child, Jesus (not a new baby), they gave him presents and departed another way and did not tell Herod.

At this point Joseph was told by an angel to go to Egypt until Herod died. Herod got angry and killed all children under two years old (verse 16) because he knew Jesus was already a young child and not a baby:

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men." (Matthew 2:16, KJV)

After Egypt, Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Nazareth because Herod was dead. From there the life of Jesus resumes in Luke 2:40.

You see these are two different events, one at His birth in the Manger and the other, Jesus is nearly two with the wise men and their gifts.