Introduction

In the first two chapters of his Gospel Matthew writes about the birth of the Messiah. Did he intend for the narrative just to be used for children's pageants and to provide ideas for lawn decorations? Surely he had more serious purposes in mind, but sadly this beginning part of his Gospel has been often trivialized down through the centuries.

Questions and Themes

What important information was he conveying? What issues facing his readers did he confront? Could Jesus of Nazareth, a place thought to produce no good thing, really be the Messiah? Hadn't his birth actually been a scandal? Why would wise men bring him gifts? How many wise men were there anyway? And that part about the star; maybe it wasn't actually a star.

A New Perspective

A Jewish Christmas Story is a study guide which brings new insights to a story with which many are familiar but one whose real meaning is seldom considered seriously.