Some people claim that the accounts of Jesus’ birth in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke contradict each other. Specifically, they point out that Matthew 1:18-21 presents a different account of the announcement of Jesus’ birth than Luke 1:26-31.
However, when we examine both texts carefully, we see that there is no contradiction, but a complementary narrative that strengthens the credibility of the Gospel.
Luke 1:26-31 – The Announcement to Mary
In this passage, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary in Nazareth and announces to her that she has been chosen to conceive and give birth to the Messiah:
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, full of favor, the Lord is with you. ’ […] You will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.” (Luke 1:26-31)
Mary, surprised because she has not yet lived with Joseph, asks how this will happen, and the angel explains that it will be the work of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18-21 – The Revelation to Joseph
Matthew recounts the same event, but from Joseph’s perspective:
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place on this wise. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and not wanting to expose her, had decided to divorce her quietly. He had planned this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:18-21)
Joseph, realizing that Mary is pregnant and not yet aware of the divine intervention, decides to keep it a secret so as not to expose her. However, an angel appears to him in a dream and reveals to him that the child Mary is expecting is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Where is the supposed contradiction?
Those who see a contradiction often argue that:
- Luke says that Mary already knew about the pregnancy before conception, while in Matthew, Joseph seems to find out after Mary is already pregnant.
- There is no mention of the angel’s vision to Mary in Matthew, nor of the angel’s vision to Joseph in Luke.
However, these differences do not represent a contradiction, but rather a complementary account:
- Luke gives us Mary’s perspective, recounting her astonishment at receiving the angel’s news before she conceives.
- Matthew gives us Joseph’s perspective, who finds out after Mary has already conceived.
There is no conflict, as both gospels tell the same story from different angles.
Why do Matthew and Luke tell the story differently?
Each evangelist had a particular purpose in writing:
- Luke wrote his gospel for Gentiles and with a focus on Mary. That is why he details the Annunciation and Mary’s response.
- Matthew wrote primarily for Jews and focused on showing Jesus as the promised Messiah. That is why his emphasis is on Joseph and his Davidic lineage.
If both gospels told exactly the same story with no differences in approach, we might suspect that they were copied from each other. But by complementing each other, they reinforce the truthfulness of the account.
What biblical exegesis and Christian tradition say
Since the first centuries, the Church has interpreted both accounts as part of the same story without contradictions:
Saint John Chrysostom (Homilies on Matthew, V, 3) explains that Matthew focuses on Joseph because his audience was more interested in the genealogy of the Messiah.
Saint Augustine in The Harmony of the Gospels (II, 5, 10) says that “Matthew relates what happened to Joseph, and Luke what happened to Mary; both accounts complement each other.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reaffirms the coherence of both accounts in the context of the Annunciation and the Incarnation (CCC 497).
In addition, modern exegesis confirms that the Gospels follow the pattern of multiple testimonies, where different perspectives narrate the same truth from different angles (Brown, The Birth of the Messiah, 1993).
Conclusion
There is no contradiction between Luke 1:26-31 and Matthew 1:18-21. Both passages present the same story from different perspectives: one from Mary’s experience and the other from Joseph’s. These differences, instead of weakening the credibility of the story, strengthen it by showing two independent but harmonious testimonies.
Holy Scripture, read in its context and in the light of the Tradition of the Church (2 Thessalonians 2:15), teaches us the truth without contradiction, confirming the coherence of the divine message.
Sources
- Brown, Raymond E. The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke. Yale University Press, 1993.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997.
- Saint John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew, V, 3.
- Saint Augustine, The Harmony of the Gospels, II, 5, 10.
