The following is an excerpt from Steven L. Cox and Kendell H. Easley, Holman Christian Standard Bible: Harmony of the Gospels (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), 29-36.

Sec. 5 Gabriel Predicts Jesus’ Birth

Luke 1:26–38
²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. ³⁶And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Lk 1:28 favored woman: This expression announces that Mary is the beneficiary of a gracious act of God.
Lk 1:32 Son of the Most High: This title, in contrast to John as prophet, is Luke’s first note that Jesus will be unique in His relationship to God. This announcement is made like other announcements of the birth of other significant figures (Gn 16:7; Jdg 13:5; Is 7:14). David: Jesus will have human roots in the house of David, the royal line of Israel which shows His humanity and qualities Him to be Messiah.
Lk 1:35 The Holy Spirit will come upon you: Here is Luke’s declaration that God had a direct role in Jesus’ conception. We are not told exactly how this took place, only that despite Mary’s lack of sexual experience, she would conceive through the work of the Holy Spirit. This divine conception and virgin birth was another sign that Jesus was unique. holy: Holy simply means set apart, usually for a sacred task. Jesus was set apart from before His birth.
Lk 1:37 nothing will be impossible with God: This is the lesson Mary is to gain from this experience.
Lk 1:38 May it be done to me: Mary has the exemplary attitude of God’s servant, despite what this will cost her in reputation for those who do not appreciate what really happened.


Sec. 6 Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth

Luke 1:39–45
³⁹In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴²and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Lk 1:41 the baby leaped: Even before they were born, John was testifying to Jesus as verse 15 predicted about His being filled with the Spirit from the womb, and verse 44 explains.
Lk 1:42 blessed: This term used twice in the verse means to be happy. In this case, it is because of God’s gracious act on her behalf.
Lk 1:43 How could this happen: Elizabeth feels it an honor to be included in these events. She did nothing to earn this right.


Sec. 7 Mary’s Praise

Luke 1:46–56
⁴⁶And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; ⁴⁹for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. ⁵⁰And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. ⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; ⁵²he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; ⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. ⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, ⁵⁵as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” ⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

Lk 1:46 proclaims the greatness of the Lord: Mary utters a praise Psalm here, known as the Magnificat, a title that comes for the opening words of this psalm in the Latin version. A praise psalm is one where God is to be praised and the reason for that praise is given in what is said. Personal reasons appear in verses 46–49, while in verses 50–56 corporate reasons applying to certain types of people are noted. The major reason for the praise in this second section is that God is honoring His covenant.
Lk 1:48 from now on: Mary declares that things will be different from this point on because the Lord has come. This expression is one Luke likes (Lk 5:10; 12:52; 22:18, 69; Ac 18:6). blessed: Mary is blessed not because of what she has done, but because of what she has experienced. Her attitude of joy in response to God’s grace is exemplary.
Lk 1:52–53 mighty … lowly … hungry … rich: These contrasts introduce themes Luke will present throughout his Gospel. God’s message is for everyone, but it excludes those who think they are high and mighty on their own.
Lk 1:54 mercy: This is probably a reference to covenant loyally that God has given to Israel, since the promise to Abraham is mentioned.


Sec. 8 The Birth and Naming of John

Luke 1:57–80
⁵⁷Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, ⁶⁰but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” ⁶¹And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” ⁶²And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. ⁶³And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. ⁶⁴And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. ⁶⁵And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, ⁶⁶and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. ⁶⁷And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, ⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people ⁶⁹and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; ⁷²to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, ⁷³the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, ⁷⁸because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high ⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” ⁸⁰And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Lk 1:63 writing tablet: In the ancient world this would have been something with wax on it.
Lk 1:64 his mouth was opened: As soon as Zechariah gave evidence he had learned the lesson that God’s word would come to pass and should be followed, his temporary judgment came to an end.
Lk 1:67 prophesied: In Luke and Acts, the filling of the Spirit often led to prophecy, which in this context is the ability to praise God and declare what He is doing. The praise psalm that follows is called the Benedictus, after its opening words in the Latin version.
Lk 1:68 visited: The reason for the praise is that God has come to redeem His people. The idea of the visit will reappear in verse 78 showing that God’s visit is tied to the coming of Jesus as Messiah, who is likened to the morning dawn that ends the night.
Lk 1:69 horn of salvation … David: Yet another allusion to Jesus being the fulfillment of promises made to the house of David about one to come and redeem God’s people. A horn was a metaphor for power. Jesus has a power that is related to salvation.
Lk 1:73 Abraham: What is taking place is a fulfillment of promises made to Abraham long ago, the first of which appears in Genesis 12:1–3.
Lk 1:74–75 serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness: This is Zechariah’s life desire, to faithfully serve God in a context where he has been rescued from his enemies. Luke shows that the key enemies are not other people, such as the Romans, but the devil and sin for which one needs forgiveness (v. 77) in order to find peace (v. 79).
Lk 1:76 prophet: John is a prophet of God called upon to give God’s people a knowledge about salvation as found through the forgiveness of sin, something that will come through the One to come, the Morning Light that is Messiah (vv. 77–79).
Lk 1:78 Dawn: Jesus is compared to the morning light, an image from the OT (Is 11:1–10; Jr 23:5; 33:15; Zch 3:8; 6:12).
Lk 1:79 peace: The mission of Messiah is about giving people peace before God as He leads them from death to life.


Sec. 9 The Nativity of the Messiah

Matthew 1:18–25
¹⁸Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ²³“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). ²⁴When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Mt 1:18 engaged: There were three stages to a Jewish marriage: the arrangement, the engagement or betrothal, and the consummation. See the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, “Marriage.” pregnant by the Holy Spirit: Literally, “found in the womb.” Three times in verses 18–25 Matthew emphasizes that Mary was a virgin and that this child was conceived by the Holy Spirit (vv. 18, 20, 25).
Mt 1:19 divorce her secretly: Joseph had several options open to him: take her to the priest and embarrass her publicly, have her stoned (Dt 22:23), or end the engagement privately with a bill of divorcement. He had decided on the latter until the angel instructed him otherwise.
Mt 1:22 to fulfill: An important phrase in Matthew’s Gospel, Matthew’s desire was to show that Jesus fulfilled the OT promises about Messiah.


Sec. 10 The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1–7
¹In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Lk 2:2 registration: This census is much discussed. Josephus mentions one in AD 6 that is too late to refer to Jesus’ birth. It could be that this registration is one taken before that of Quirinius (see marginal note in translation) or it may be that this registration took some time and was completed under Quirinius and so became associated with his name.


Sec. 11 The Shepherds and the Angels

Luke 2:8–20
⁸And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹²And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” ¹⁵When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Lk 2:11 Savior … Messiah … Lord: These are three key titles of Jesus. He is deliverer, Messiah, and the One who has authority over salvation and the earth.
Lk 2:14 people He favors: This expression refers to God’s chosen people, not to all people.
Lk 2:20 just as they had been told: These words underscore the theme of Luke 1–2. God’s word comes to pass.


Sec. 12 The Circumcision of Jesus

Luke 2:21
²¹And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.


Sec. 13 The Presentation of Jesus

Luke 2:22–38
²²And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) ²⁴and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” ²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, ²⁹“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; ³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation ³¹that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” ³³And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ³⁵(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” ³⁶And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, ³⁷and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Lk 2:22 days of their purification: Mary would need ceremonial purification according to the Law because she had given birth (Lv 12:2–4). More uncertain is why Joseph is included. It may well be he helped with the birth and thus also needed purification. They also brought Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him as a firstborn Son to the Lord.
Lk 2:29 Now, Master: This praise psalm is called the Nunc Dimittis, after the first words of the passage in the Latin version. God has completed His word to Simeon that he would see the Messiah, so he praises God and is ready to die.
Lk 2:32 light: Jesus is called a light for two reasons: as a source of revelation for the way of salvation to Gentiles, and because He is the glory of the people of Israel. The image is from Isaiah 9:1.
Lk 2:34 fall and rise: Jesus also will divide Israel as Simeon predicted, while the prophet also noted the pain Jesus’ rejection will bring to Mary.
Lk 2:38 redemption of Jerusalem: As a good Jewish prophetess, Anna looked forward to God completing His promise of redemption for Israel. In Jesus, she saw and declared this fulfillment. Luke placed women and men next to each other in ministry, as here with Simeon and then Anna.


Sec. 14 Wise Men Seek the King

Matthew 2:1–12
¹Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, ²saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ⁶“ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” ⁷Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” ⁹After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. ¹¹And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ¹²And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Mt 2:2 born King: Matthew alone records the visit of the magi or wise men. Only here is the question asked, “Where is He who is born King of the Jews?” This is not surprising since Matthew’s portrait of Jesus is as the King of the Jews.
Mt 2:3 he was deeply disturbed: Herod was so wicked and ruthless that he had three of his own sons and a wife put to death in a jealous rage. Though 70 years of age, he could not bear the thought of anyone usurping him as ruler of the Jews.
Mt 2:4 chief priests: A group of Jewish temple officers that included the high priest, captain of the temple, temple overseers, and treasurers. scribes: A professional group in Judaism that copied the Law of Moses and interpreted it, especially in legal cases.
Mt 2:5 the prophet: Here is an indisputable direct fulfillment of Micah 5:2.
Mt 2:7 asked them: If the answer given by the wise men had been recorded, we would have known more accurately the date of Jesus’ birth.
Mt 2:8 worship Him: His ultimate purpose was made clear by what he actually did in verse 16.
Mt 2:9 led them: The star was not a natural heavenly body as it was able to stand directly over the house where Jesus and His family now lived.
Mt 2:11 child: The wise men did not find an infant, but a “child,” a different word in Greek. Also, they found Him in a house, not in a stable. This happened several months after Jesus was born, gold, frankincense, and myrrh: Then, as now, gold was the most precious of metals and the universal symbol of material value and wealth. Frankincense and myrrh were fragrant spices and perfumes equally appropriate for such adoration and worship.

To continue reading about Jesus Christ, visit our online Bible, powered by Biblia.com, or visit MyStudyBible.com where you will find many helpful tools to assist you in your Bible study.