1. The shortest gospel-connected with Simon Peter’s witness to John Mark.

2. Many signs point to an eyewitness account: Jesus with his head on a pillow in the boat (4:37-38); he says the grass was green in the feeding of the five thousand ( 6:39); detailed portrayal of the healing miracle (7:33).

3. It is a gospel for the Gentiles. Many times Jewish words and phrases are explained.

4. Mark is more candid about the disciples and Jesus. The emotions of compassion, severity, anger, sorrow, tenderness, and love are attributed to Jesus ( 1:41,43;4:13, 6:52, 8:17, 21; 9:10).

5. The favorite title of Mark for Jesus is Son of God, and Son of Man.

6. The most significant interest of Mark is in the Messianic Secret. Mark portrays Jesus as keeping his messiahship secret- gradually revealing himself as demoniac’s confess him and finally with Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi.

7. 70% of Mark is devoted to the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus.

Matthew - written in A. D. 85

(copied Mark, Q, and used own material M)

1. The most Jewish of the four Gospel. It was written in part to offset an ever emphasis of Paul on faith rather than works.

2. Jesus ancestry is traced back in chapter 1 to Abraham, father of Jews.

3. Jesus uses the phrase Kingdom of a Heaven in Matthew instead of Kingdom of God as in Mark. A Jew was not allowed to pronounce God’s name.

4. The favorite title for in Matthew is Son of David.

5. Matthew views Jesus as the new Moses. When Moses was born, babies were killed when Jesus was born, babies were killed. Moses came out of Egypt—only Matthew does Jesus go to Egypt.

6. Matthew is divided into 5 divisions to match the 5 books of Moses. There are 10 Beatitudes which match the 10 commandments. Each division has a travel narrative combined with a teaching section. This made it easier to memorize. We have records that new converts to the church had to memorize Matthew.

7. It has specific Jewish verses not found in the other 3 gospels:

a. 5:18, not one jot or one tittle will fall away from the law

b. 23:2ff., the scribes and the pharisees occupy the seat of Moses and should be obeyed

c. 19:17ff., Jesus says to keep the commandments

d. 6:16ff., 24:20, 5:23ff., Jesus tells the disciples to fast, keep the Sabbath and bring offerings in the Jewish tradition.

e. 15:24, Jesus says, “I am sent to the lost sheep pf the house of Israel.”

f. 15:2, Jewish customs are mentioned with no explanation

8. In the birth stories, Gentile kings pay homage to the Jewish baby.

9. Matthew doubles the amount of space given to eschatology–the doctrine of the last things. He devotes two chapters 24 & 25 to subject rather than Mark’s one, chapter 13. The parable of the 10 virgins appears only in Matthew.

10. Matthew is the only gospel to mention the word church (18:17ff.).

1. The most Gentile gospel. Luke was a gentile and a medical doctor.

2. It is the longest gospel.

3. Traces the lineage of Jesus back to Adam, a gentile (Chapter 3).

4. The angle’s good will message is directed to all men (2:14).

5. Simeon foretells that Jesus will be a light to all the gentiles (2:32).

6. Only Luke has Jesus praising two Gentiles from the Old Testament: the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian (4:25-27).

7. Luke focuses on the individuals: Zacharias, Elizabeth, and Mary, Mary, and Martha, Zachaeus, Cleopas.

8. Emphasizes the role of women:

a. 13 women mentioned not found in the other 3 gospels.

b. Two women the subject of the parables.

c. Includes the stories of the widow in Nain, the immoral woman, women supported Jesus with money during his ministry, women cried over Jesus on the cross, and women play a significant role in the birth and resurrection stories.

9. Interests in Children:

a. Luke alone refers to the childhood of Jesus and John the Baptist.

b. Children are mentioned three times in connection with Jesus (7:12. 8:42, 9:38).

10. Social relationships are stressed in Life of Jesus:

a. Three instances of Jesus dining with the Pharisees (7:36, 11:37, 14:1).

b. Social relationships at Bethany (10:38), at Zachaeus’ house (19:1), and at Emmaus (24: 13-35).

11. Poverty and Wealth:

a. Special parables deal with money matters: two debtors, the rich fool, the tower builder, the lost coin, and the rich man and Lazarus.

b. The poor and humble are often the object of the Savior’s mercy.

c. Pharisees are called lovers of money (16:14).

d. John the Baptist warns against extortion and soldiers being discontented with their pay.

e. At Nazareth Jesus proclaims “good news to the poor” (4:17).

f. In the Sermon on the Plain, Jesus says “Blessed are the hungry, Blessed are the poor.

12. A great emphasis on prayer. Luke records 9 prayers of Jesus.

13. A great emphasis on the Holy Spirit.

John - written A. D. 100

(used a unique source)

I. Emphasizes the Old Testament

II. Uses great themes such as life, light, love instead of narrative, event by event.

III. Writes to prove that Jesus is the Son of God by demonstrating 7 signs that he performed.

IV. Long discourses interpreting the events follows major events in the life of John.

V. No mention of the parables of Jesus, birth, Lord’s Supper, or baptism of Jesus.

VI. Son of God is the favorite title.

VII. The pattern of events and the chronology of these events are different in John. For example the cleansing of the temple comes first.

90% of Mark is copied in Matthew; 50% of mark appears in Luke. In Matthew and Luke, all but four short passages of Mark are used. 50% of that is word for word agreement. We call Mark, Matthew, and Luke the Synoptic Gospels.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++ PeacePage Directory +++

Home

Classes | Degree Plans

Israel/Jordan Photo Collection | oDDs anD enDs

WBC Home Page

+ + +

Go Eagles!

OUAI

This page maintained by Robert Lee Foster, rfoster@wbcoll.edu

Last revised: January 5, 2005

PeacePage

The Life and Teachings of Jesus: