The Two "Christmas" Stories

[37818]

1) Luke 2:11-12, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

2) Matthew 2:9-11, When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

 

[Charlie24]

1) Luke 2:11-12, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

2) Matthew 2:9-11, When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Do you think maybe it took a considerable amount of time for the wise men to find Christ, being that He was now in a house (maybe Nazareth) and not the stable where He was born.

 

[37818]

Do you think maybe it took a considerable amount of time for the wise men to find Christ, being that He was now in a house (maybe Nazareth) and not the stable where He was born.

The house was in Bethlehem. And Jesus was then a young child.

Matthew 2:16, 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.

 

[Charlie24]

The house was in Bethlehem. And Jesus was then a young child.

Matthew 2:16, 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.

The Scripture doesn't say they found Him in Bethlehem.

The "Star of Bethlehem" that led them is in much controversy.

 

[Charlie24]

The Scripture doesn't say they found Him in Bethlehem.

The "Star of Bethlehem" that led them is in much controversy.

I know it's hypothetical, but Joseph left Nazareth to go pay his taxes.

Why would he be in a house in Bethlehem with a young Jesus when his home was in Nazareth?

 

[Scarlett O.]

1) Luke 2:11-12, For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

2) Matthew 2:9-11, When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

Why are there two stories? I see one. One chapter with the shepherds. The second chapter with the Wise Men.

 

[Deacon]

How much of the story we remember is Scripture and how much is tradition?

Matthew 2:1 - The text refers to wise men from the east (number unknown)...

Matthew 2:1-2 - ....seeing his star which rose [in the east - TR].

...and the star going before them and then stopping somewhere, behavior uncommon for stars.

Matthew 1:9 - The only reference to the star going before them comes as they traveled from Jerusalem to Bethlehem and stopped over where the child was. It remains a mystery how they knew precisely where to look.

The magi were not there to see the newly born infant child - - for the family left hurriedly to Egypt after the visit of the magi.

Before leaving to go to Egypt, Jesus had to be circumcised (on the eighth day) and the family visited the Temple (after Mary's ritual of purification) [more than a month] (Luke 2:21-22).

Then you have Herod killing children under two years old. Jesus may have been two years old when the magi came.

Rob

 

[JonC]

Luke 2:8-12 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Matthew 2:7- 12Then Herod secretly called for the magi ...After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.


I don't know that @37818 was presenting these as conflicting accounts but simply as different stories - one was the shepheard (who were tending their flock nearby) and the other the magi (who traveled from afar).

 

[Charlie24]

Luke 2:8-12 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock at night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Matthew 2:7- 12Then Herod secretly called for the magi ...After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.


I don't know that @37818 was presenting these as conflicting accounts but simply as different stories - one was the shepheard (who were tending their flock nearby) and the other the magi (who traveled from afar).

I wasn't sure that he was doing that either.

I was just pointing out the time frame between Luke and Matthews accounts.