Question: Don't Matthew and Luke disagree about whether Mary and Joseph were engaged or married? Note the marital status of the couple when they enter Bethlehem.

Answer: Both Matthew and Luke are correct. The passages in question are as follows... Matthew 1:24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (NIV) Luke 2:4-6 He (Joseph) went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (NIV) First read the following question and response also posted to our web site about marriage customs at the time of Jesus... Marriage at the time of Jesus That article provides some background for the following statements. In Matthew, Joseph (who had been close to divorcing Mary during the betrothal period) took her to his home as his wife, signifying that he was going to complete the betrothal. I would assume that the marriage feast took place as usual here too. Matthew then goes out of his way to show that though Joseph took her home as wife but he did not complete the final act of the marriage -- entering into the chamber to consummate the union. Matthew 1:25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (NIV) Until after Jesus was born, Luke (the physician) is quite technically right in saying that Mary was still betrothed to Joseph. The marriage ceremony was only completed after she gave birth to Jesus.