I N D E X
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Luke 3:4-6, "As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one
crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and
every mountain and hill shall be brought low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be
made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God".
It will be seen at once, that Luke could not be satisfied with the brief quotation made by Matthew. He must go
on until "the salvation of God" seen by "all flesh" is reached, for such a theme coincides with the purpose of his
gospel.
(2) THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
(a) The Time and Period.
Matthew 2:1, "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king".
Luke 2:1,2, "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all
the world should be taxed (and this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria)".
Matthew's circumference is "Judaea" and its centre Herod; Luke's circumference is "all the world" and its
centre Caesar Augustus.
(b) The Worshippers.
Matthew 2:1, "There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem".
Luke 2:8,15, "There were in the same country shepherds ... Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this
thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us".
Matthew makes no reference to the shepherds; Luke makes no reference to the wise men. Each is divinely
guided in his selection as the sequel will show.
(c) The Purpose of the Nativity.
Matthew 2:2,5,6, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews? ... they said ... In Bethlehem of Judaea".
Luke 2:11, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord".
Here the contrast is most markedMatthew says in Bethlehem is born the King; Luke says in Bethlehem is
born a Saviour, each evangelist keeping strictly to his aim and purpose.
Luke supplements his account of the shepherds" and of the Angels" testimony by the added doxology "Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (2:14), whereas Matthew quotes the prophet Micah
saying "that shall rule My people Israel" (2:6). In addition, in Luke, old Simeon is brought before us, an Israelite
looking for the consolation of Israel, but when he saw the infant Christ, and took Him in his arms, Israel is not
mentioned first, but strange as it may seem, he said, "A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people
Israel" (Luke 2:32).
(3) THE LORD'S OPENING MINISTRY.
(a) The Context.
Matthew 4:1, "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil".
Luke 4:1, "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the
wilderness".
No comment is here necessary, the only reason these passages are quoted is to show that the next statements
are rightly compared together.