The Point of the Gospel--Simeon and the Magi

Simeon {Luke}

On the eighth day after his birth, according to Jewish law, Jesus was named and circumcised. Later, his parents brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices as also written in the law. Simeon, a righteous and devout man, had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Lord’s Christ before he died.

He found Mary and Joseph in the temple and took Jesus in his arms. Praising God, Simeon called Jesus a light to the Gentiles and the glory of the people Israel. Joseph and Mary marveled at his words. He said to Mary, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

The Wise Men {Matthew}

Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod. Magi, wise men, from the east followed a star and asked Herod where the king of the Jews, meaning the Messiah or savior, had been born. Disturbed by this possible rival, Herod asked the chief priests and teachers of the law what the texts said about the birth of the Christ.

They answered that the prophet Micah wrote about a ruler who would come out of Bethlehem. Herod sent the Magi there and asked them to report back after they’d found the child. The Magi followed the star to the place where Jesus lay, and overjoyed, they bowed down to worship and gave the child gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh.

Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went home. The king was furious at being outwitted and ordered all boys in Bethlehem two years and under to be killed, fulfilling prophecy: “A voice is heard… Rachel weeping and refusing to be comforted, because [her children] are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15)

An angel warned Joseph in a dream to take the baby to Egypt and save him from Herod’s decree. They stayed there until the king’s death, fulfilling prophecy: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1) The family returned to Nazareth.

Personal Thoughts

It would have taken Joseph and Mary a number of days to ready themselves to travel from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. Why would they have then turned around to return to Bethlehem and been in danger from Herod rather than going home to Nazareth? If they first went to Egypt, Jesus would have been a toddler before they could have returned to their own country and gone to the temple, not the baby Simeon held. The timeline doesn’t mesh. I suspect Luke was more accurate and Matthew simply determined to have Jesus fulfill prophecy.