THE BIRTH OF CHRIST FROM MATTHEW

Only in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke is the story of Christ's birth.  Luke Chapter 2 goes into detail of his birth.  Luke doesn't mention the wisemen.  In Matthew the first chapter it talks about Mary being told she will have a son and call his name Emmanuel.  In chapter 2 of Matthew it tells about his birth and then goes on to tell the story from when the wisemen appeared to them at a house, when Jesus was about 2 years old. Maybe Luke should have been placed before Matthew in the Bible.

Luke 2:1  In those days the world was to be taxed. Verse 4 Joseph went up from Galilee City of Nazareth into Judea unto the City of David, Bethlehem, he was of the house and lineage of David, with his wife Mary with child, almost time to deliver. Verse 7 Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. They were in the stable of the Inn.  He wasn't born in the manager, but laid in the manager by his mother Mary. The manger is where the feed was put for the animals. Verse 13 Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God...Verse 15 As the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (note: the shepherds came to the stable after he was born.)

The Gospel of Matthew Chapter 2 begins where Luke left off.  Matthew tells of the birth at Bethlehem in chapter one, but continues on to the wisemen and their travels to find Christ after his birth.

Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise...verse 21 She shall bring forth a son and call his name Jesus. 

Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King, behold there came wisemen from the east of Jerusalem. Verse 2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen the star in the east, and are come to worship him. (Scripture doesn't mention how many wisemen there were.)  Verse 3 When Herod the King had heard these things, he was troubled, and all of Jerusalem with him.  Verse 4  When Herod had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.  Verse 5  They said to him, in Bethle-hem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, Verse 6...for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people, Israel. Verse 7  Herod called the wisemen privily and inquired of them what time the Star appeared.  (This was two years after Christ's birth.)  Verse 8  He sent the wisemen to Bethlehem and said, Go search diligently for the young child (not baby); when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him.  Verse 9  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.  Verse 11  When they came into the house (not stable) they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him...Verse 12  They were warned by God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country, another way.  Verse 13  When they were departed, behold, an angel of the LORD appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.  Verse 14  He arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt;  Verse 15  And was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of by the prophet saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.  Verse 16  Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wisemen, was exceedingly wroth, and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wisemen.  (not just males, all children.)  Verse 17  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying,  Verse 18  In Rama was there a voice heard, Lamentation, and weeping and great morning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted; because they were not. 

What is left out of the scriptures is the celebration of Christ's birth.  God doesn't give us an exact date. He does let us know the time of year, but not the day. It wasn't in winter time, it was in the fall.  He doesn't give us instructions on how to celebrate Christ's birth.  He commands us to remember his death, by taking part in the Lord's Supper Service once a year, which he told his disciples to do, before he ascended back to heaven.  He doesn't command us to observe his resurrection either.











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