GROUP 1

Jesus’ Birth Announced

(Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38)

In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel is sent by God to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. Gabriel
appears to Mary, a virgin who is pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, who is a descendant of David. The
angel greets Mary, calling her highly favored and declaring that the Lord is with her.
Mary is troubled and confused by the angel's words, wondering about the meaning of the greeting.
The angel reassures her, urging her not to be afraid and stating that she has found favor with God. Gabriel informs
Mary that she will conceive and give birth to a son, whom she is to name Jesus.
The angel describes the greatness of this child, saying that he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God
will give him the throne of his ancestor David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever, with an
everlasting kingdom.
Mary, still perplexed about how this can happen since she is a virgin, asks the angel for an explanation. The angel
responds by revealing that the Holy Spirit will come upon her, and the power of the Most High will overshadow
her. As a result, the child to be born will be called the Son of God.
Gabriel further informs Mary about the miraculous pregnancy of her relative Elizabeth, who was thought to be
unable to conceive but is now in her sixth month of pregnancy. The angel assures Mary that nothing is impossible
for God.
Mary responds humbly and accepts her role as the Lord's servant, expressing her willingness for God's word to be
fulfilled in her life. The angel then departs from her.
 Both passages, Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38 highlight the main
event which is the announcement and miraculous conception of Jesus
by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, which ultimately
leads to the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. This event serves as
a crucial foundation for the incarnation of Jesus, as he enters the world
as the Son of God and the promised Messiah. It signifies the
fulfillment of prophecy and the extraordinary nature of Jesus' birth.
Both accounts It was revealed in both
emphasized that Mary, Matthew and Luke that It was stated in
a virgin, had been Jesus’ birth was a both versions
pledged to marry a man fulfillment of a prophecy;
that Joseph was a
named Joseph but he will reign over a
kingdom without no end. descendant of
before they came
Jesus was bound to be of King David.
together, she was to
greatness and save his
give birth to a son and
people from their sins.
name him Jesus.
Both passages involve angelic visitations to announce the upcoming births.
The appearances of the angel Gabriel in Luke's account and an unnamed
angel in Matthew's account serve as divine messengers, conveying God's
plan for Jesus' birth and the significance of this event
Unlike in Luke, there In Matthew, an angel of It was disclosed in
was no mention in the Lord appeared in Matthew but not in Luke,
Joseph’s dream to deliver how Joseph initially
Matthew about
the Lord’s planned to divorce Mary
Elizabeth, Mary’s
commands whereas in quietly to spare her from
relative who was in her
Luke, the angel Gabriel shame and judgment but
sixth month of
was sent to Mary in the city he had a change of heart
pregnancy despite old of Galilee. after the
age. angel came to his dream.
Matthew’s passage stresses Joseph's
dreams and his choice to marry
Mary despite her pregnancy. It
highlights Joseph's obedience and
depicts him as a just and faithful
man. Luke's text doesn't go into as
much information concerning
Joseph's point of view or role in the
events.
Perspectives: Matthew primarily focuses
on Joseph's perspective, presenting him
as a central character grappling with the
news of Mary's pregnancy. Luke, on the
other hand, emphasizes Mary's
perspective, highlighting her encounter
with the angel Gabriel and her willing
acceptance of God's plan