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Matthew vs Luke / The Nativity
While Matthew wrote for the Jew first, Luke, the beloved physician, wrote a Gospel with the Greek in mind. Matthew was interested in showing the Messiahship of Jesus, Luke wanted to show the Greek the universal Jesus by whom, "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations." (Luke 24:47) Luke, as a physician, gives a special emphasis upon the healing ministry of Jesus.
In respect to Luke being a physician, more is recorded about the nine and fifteen months proceeding the births of Jesus, and John Baptist, in Luke's Gospel than in the others. While Matthew informs us about the Magi from the east, Luke tells us about the promises made to Zacharias and Elisabeth by the mouth of Gabriel. Luke also tells us of the promises made to Mary by God through Gabriel. Luke informs us that the "the babe (John) leaped in her (Elisabeth's ) womb... when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary" (Luke 1:41). This is proof positive to the Born-Again Christian that the pre-delivery baby in the womb is more than a mere 'fetus'.
In respect to the genealogies presented by Matthew and Luke, they are plainly different. Again, because of Matthew's desire to show the Messiahship of Jesus, the genealogy is traced through Joseph's family to the kings of Judah. Although Joseph was not the 'seed father' of Jesus, he was the legally recognized father, and Jesus would have claim to the rights of inheritance, that is a legal claim to the line of Judah, and the throne of David promised to him by prophetic scripture(Isa 9:7). Luke, on the other hand, was interested in showing the Greek the universality of Jesus redemptive work and Godhood. In doing this, Luke follows the human bloodline through Jesus' mother Mary, all the way back to Adam. "The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."(1Co 15:45) Some skeptics have used the two differing genealogies of Matthew and Luke to try to show a division or discrepancy in the Holy writ. However it is plain that each person can trace their family back through either their mother or father, and eventually we can all trace our roots to Noah. In the case of Joseph and Mary, they could each trace their roots to David. From David, Luke traces to Nathan all the way to Mary, while Matthew traces from Solomon through the kings of Judah all the way to Joseph.
Another evidence of the purposes of Matthew and Luke is found in key repetitive phrases used by each. Matthew's key repetitive phrase is, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken", which is used nine times in that form. Luke's key repetitive phrase is, "it came to pass" which is used by him 40 times. These key phrases are indicative of the purpose of each writer. Matthew is concerned with the fulfillment of prophetic scripture, and Luke with telling a simple narrative of the redeemer of all humanity, "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev 22:17)
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