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LIFE OF CHRIST
A Harmony of the Gospels
INTRODUCTION
The Gospel of Matthew
Writer
The disciple Matthew, formerly a Publican (tax collector for Rome)
| Abundant early historical testimony ascribes this
Gospel to Matthew the publican, also called Levi by Mark and
Luke. As a former tax gatherer Matthew was well qualified to be
used of God to produce such a Gospel.
| His business knowledge of shorthand enabled him to
record fully the discourses of Jesus. |
| His acquaintance with figures is reflected in his
frequent mention of money, his interest in large sums
(Mt. 18:24, 25:15), and his general interest in statistics
(e.g. 1:17). |
|
Date
Before A.D. 70
The date of Matthew's Gospel must be prior to
A.D. 70, since there is no reference in it that Jerusalem
was in ruins (all predictions of its destruction being
clearly prophetic).
| Such passages as 27:8 ("unto this day")
and 28:15 ("until this day") suggest an interval
of some time, |
| but fifteen or twenty years following the
Resurrection would be sufficient. |
|
Theme - Jesus as Messiah
Much attention is given to demonstrating that Jesus
fulfilled Messianic prophecy and therefore was Israel's Messiah, who
would establish the promised kingdom.
| The discourses that Matthew records at length
distinguish this Gospel, and emphasize the principle, scope, and
movements of the messianic kingdom (Mt. 5-7; 13; 24-25). |
| Thus Jewish Christians, who numbered in the
thousands in the early church (Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14,
28; 6:1, 7) were given an authoritative explanation that faith
in Jesus involved no repudiation of the Old Covenant, but was the
very goal toward which Old Testament revelation pointed. |
|
The Gospel of Mark
Writer
Mark, a young man acquainted with Jesus and the disciples.
John Mark, although not one of the twelve
disciples, was closely associated with them from the
beginning.
| After working with Paul and Barnabas, he became
closely connected with Peter. Apparently Mark wrote this
Gospel for the church at Rome, shortly after the death of
Peter. |
Eusebius, in his Church History,
quoted Papias of Hierapolis, who wrote the Interpretations
Of The Lord's Sayings about A.D. 150:
"Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down
accurately everything that he remembered, without however
recording in order what was either said or done by Christ." |
| This means that Mark's Gospel is based upon the
eyewitness accounts of the big fisherman, Simon Peter,
as he preached and taught them under the leadership of the Holy
Spirit. |
Mark lived in Jerusalem where he seems to have had some contact with
the high priestly circles.
Many think he was the "young man" who followed at the
trial of Jesus and literally ran out of his clothes when they seized the
"linen cloth" that he wore (Mark 14:51).
| It is certain that the disciples were later meeting
in the home of Mary, Mark's mother (Acts 12:12); |
| and the Upper Room of the Last Supper, |
| as well as the meeting place of the church at
Pentecost (which was very likely the same room as the Last Supper) |
|
Date
Probably between A.D. 65 & 68
The most likely date for the writing of Mark would
be A.D. 65-68 because:
| Peter was martyred about A.D. 64 under the emperor
Nero |
| Mark wrote the Gospel to carry on the message that
Peter could no longer preach |
| According to Mark 13, the city of Jerusalem and the
temple have not yet been destroyed |
|
Theme - Jesus the Burdon Bearer
| Because the great leaders, Paul and Peter,
had already been killed, it was desperately important for the
young Christian movement that the accurate account of Jesus and His
ministry be preserved. It was clearly Mark's aim to hold the
suffering Christians steady in their loyalty to Christ in the face
of trial and persecution. The careful way in which he explains
the meaning of Aramaic phrases that fell from the lips of Jesus,
like the cry of dereliction from the cross (Mark 15:34),
suggests that he was writing especially to the Gentile Christians
who would not have understood the native tongue of Palestine. The
contents of this Gospel are the most detailed account of the
activity of Jesus that we have. Forty times Mark uses the word
Euthus (straightway) and always follows it with a vivid account
of some deed of Jesus. |
The Gospel of Luke Writer
Luke the Physician
Luke began his two-volume work with what we know
as the third Gospel in our New Testament (the second volume
was the book of Acts).
| According to The Muratorian Canon it is believed
that the Gospel of Luke was "compiled by Luke the
physician, when, after Christ's ascension, Paul had
taken him to be with him." |
| Luke is named by Paul as his companion in Philemon
24 & 11Timothy 4:11. |
| In Colossians 4:14 Luke is called the "beloved
physician" |
| Luke's first contact, as far as we can tell,
must have been at Troas since he first includes himself with
the pronoun "we" at that point in Paul's second Missionary
Journey (Acts 16:10). |
| He may have joined the Apostle because of Paul's
illness (II Cor. 12:7) |
Tracing the "we" passages in Acts, we find that:
| 1. |
Luke was with Paul again on the 3rd journey,
some 6 or 7 years later (A.D. 57-58) |
| 2. |
He returned with Paul to Jerusalem, where
Paul was imprisoned.
(It is supposed that during the 2 years Paul was imprisoned in
Caesarea, Luke collected much of the material for his
Gospel from the believers and Apostles in Jerusalem.) |
| 3. |
He accompanied Paul on the trip to Rome. |
| 4. |
The last words written about Luke in
Scripture are a monument to his faithfulness, and endear
him to the hearts of Christians who have felt the sting
of persecution, as Paul says from a cold Roman prison:
"Only Luke is with me." (II Timothy 4:11) |
|
Of the four, Luke's Gospel is the most complete, as he set
out to compile "an orderly account"
(Luke 1:3). |
Date
Probably between A.D. 58 & 68
| If Luke and Acts were a continuous story of
Christ and the early church, then the Gospel must have been
written first. The account in Acts terminates abruptly while
Paul is still in prison in Rome (A.D. 61), before the fate of
Paul had been decided Many scholars believe that Luke used the
Gospel of Mark as one of his sources, thus requiring a date
after Mark's Gospel in the late 60's. Others assume that Luke had
composed an earlier form of his Gospel about A.D. 58 based upon his
contact with the "eye-witnesses and ministers of the word"
(Luke 1:2) during the time Paul was in Caesarea, and
that he later encountered Mark and other sources which he used to
compile his "orderly account." |
Theme - Jesus as Savior
More than any other Gospel, Luke recorded
a detailed historical account from all reliable sources available
concerning the ministry and teaching of Jesus. The theme is
"THE UNIVERSAL SAVIOR," and it
seems his intention to reach the great multitudes of Greeks and
Romans for Christ. |
The Gospel of John Writer
The disciple John, brother to the disciple James, formerly fishermen
at Galilee referred to as the Sons of Thunder
Although the disciple John does not explicitly name
himself as the writer of this Gospel, he is indicated as
"the beloved disciple".
| John himself states that it was "...the
disciple whom Jesus loved ...
this is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote
these things." (John 21:20, 23) |
| The testimony of the Early Church is to the effect
that this is John, the son of Zebedee, brother of James (cf. 21:2).
And of the ancient church,
Irenaeus is the chief witness. |
|
Date
Probably between A.D. 80 & 90 According to historical tradition,
John spent his later years at Ephesus, ministering, preaching,
teaching, and writing. It was from Ephesus that he was exiled
to the island of Patmos during the reign of the Emperor Domitian,
where he received the Revelation.
| He seems to have knowledge of the other three
Gospels, and for this reason is placed last in the series. |
| It was probably written between A.D. 80 & 90. Some
have dated it even later. |
| The discovery of Egyptian fragments of the Gospel
of John, dated from A.D. 100- 150, indicates that it
must have been written before the end of the first century. |
Theme
| The three-fold emphasis: |
1. |
"These are written that ye might
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing,
ye might have life through His name."
(John 20:31) |
| |
2. |
The exposure of Judaism as an
inadequate religious system that crowned its other sins by rejecting
its promised and only Messiah. |
| |
3. |
The refutation of Docetism
(the denial of the humanity of Jesus).
(John 1:14) |
This Gospel is simple in both language and structure,
| yet it is one of the most profound expositions
of the Person of Christ. |
It combines a message for the humble disciple of the Lord
| with instruction for the most advanced
theologian. |
John is the Gospel designed for young believers to wade in as
they become accustomed to the Water of Life.
| At the same time,
there are unfathomable depths to swim that transcend the
human intellect in the glories of the unfolding of the plans,
purposes, and person of Jesus Christ. |
|
|
| 1. |
Showing Jesus as the PROMISED
MESSIAH, of the seed of Abraham, through the
kingly line of David.
(Matt. 1:1) |
| 2. |
Showing that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament
predictions relating to the Messiah.
Note the recurring expression: "This was done that it might
be fulfilled."
(Matt. 1:22, 23; 2:5, 15, 17, 23; 3:3, 15; 4:14; etc.) |
|
|
| 1. |
Presenting Jesus as the MIGHTY
WORKER, the faithful "Servant of the Lord,”
doing the will of God perfectly. |
| 2. |
There is no genealogy in Mark, for one is not
interested in the pedigree of a "servant." |
| 3. |
There is hardly a reference to the Old Testament,
as the Romans were familiar with neither the Old Testament
Scriptures, nor the prophecies of the Messiah. |
| 4. |
The Keynote of Mark is "straightway"
& "immediately".
(Mark 1:10, 12, 18, 20, 28, 29, 42, and 43: 2:2, 8, 12; etc.) |
|
|
| 1. |
Portraying Jesus as the PERFECT
MAN.
The Greeks idolized humanity, and the humanity of Jesus Christ
is especially emphasized in the Gospel of Luke. |
| 2. |
He is the Son of Man. |
| 3. |
His genealogy is traced through Adam, the
first man (Luke 3:38). |
| 4. |
His human attributes and characteristics are
prominent.
He is the Ideal Man, the Perfection of Manhood. |
| 4. |
Not only A son of man, but
THE Son of man. |
|
|
| 1. |
Showing Jesus as the PROMISED
MESSIAH, of the seed of Abraham, through the
kingly line of David.
(Matt. 1:1) |
| 2. |
Showing that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament
predictions relating to the Messiah.
Note the recurring expression: "This was done that it might
be fulfilled."
(Matt. 1:22, 23; 2:5, 15, 17, 23; 3:3, 15; 4:14; etc.) |
| |
|
* * * * * *
| Matthew |
Presents the DISCOURSES
or teachings of Jesus Christ. |
| Mark |
Rapid outline survey of the history of
Jesus, dealing mainly with the GALILEAN
MINISTRY |
| Luke |
Complements Matthew and Mark, and
supplements them by tracing what is not otherwise omitted. The
ministry in PEREA is especially
emphasized. |
| John |
Presents the highest reflective view of
the eternal Word in the Son, dealing almost exclusively with the
JERUSALEM MINISTRY. |
* * * * * *
| Matthew |
Past |
Sets forth the fulfillment of the Old Testament
prophecies. |
| Mark |
Present |
Manifests the life and activity characteristic of the
Roman mind. |
| Luke |
Future |
Portrays the universal and comprehensive character of
the Gospel destined to embrace all the Gentile nations. |
| John |
Eternal |
Presents the Gospel in its absolute perfection as
related to the Father in eternity. |
* * * * * *
| Matthew |
A Profile |
Showing Jesus in clear-cut outline
against the background of Old Testament history, prophecy,
promise, and type as the promised Messiah. |
| Mark |
A Steel Engraving |
The very straight-forwardness and
directness of the inspired artist, and His boldness of
description, leaves an irresistible impression of the powerful
One Who is able to save to the uttermost. |
| Luke |
A Half-Tone |
The strong light of divinity is sifted,
and in a sense moderated, as it passes through the fine lines of
humanity, showing Jesus as
the Son of Man,
the Friend of sinners,
the Elder Brother Who can restore us to the love of the Father. |
| John |
A Life-Size Portrait |
The one who was closest to Jesus paints a
picture of Him as the loving heart of faith is bound to see Him.
His divinity and His humanity rounded out into the completeness
that experience gives, to whom is unfolded the whole secret of
life and salvation. |
| Matthew |
King |
|
(Isa. 32:1; Jer. 23:5; Zech.
9:9) |
|
This title includes the particulars of the Kingdom:
its nature,
extent,
growth,
subjects,
glory, and
strength. |
It fully agrees Matthew's Gospel, whose very aim is to show Jesus
Christ as the
King of Israel,
Founder of the Kingdom of Heaven. |
Therefore, the genealogy in Matthew is traced back through the royal
kingly line of David.
The "kingdom of heaven" is referred to 16 times in
Matthew.
|
| |
| Mark |
Servant |
|
(Isa. 42:1-7; Isa. 53; Ezek.
34:23) |
|
| Jesus is portrayed as the Servant of God - the One doing God's
service and will.
Jesus is the
Sin-bearer,
Sacrifice,
Law keeper,
Prophet,
Priest, and
Teacher. |
This agrees with the purpose of Mark's Gospel, which is Service, and which
is characterized by the words "straightway" and "immediately."
Therefore, no attention is paid to the matter of genealogy, for we are not
interested in the pedigree of a servant. Mark plunges at once into the
activities of the life and ministry of Jesus.
|
| |
| Luke |
Son Of Man |
Humanity |
(Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9;6;
Dan. 7:13) |
|
In these passages the Messiah is presented as being
genuine man,
with a human nature like ours |
with the exception of course is sin, which, by
the way, is not an integral part of human nature as originally created.
In Luke Jesus Christ is presented pre-eminently as
the Son of Man,
the
Ideal Man.
The genealogy is traced up through Adam. |
Characteristic of this Gospel is the phrase: "Handle me, and see."
|
| |
| John |
Son Of God |
Deity |
(Isa. 9:6; Isa 47:4;
Dan. 3:25) |
|
In these prophetic scriptures the Messiah is set forth as Jehovah Himself.
He is equal with God,
One with God,
Really God. |
This is in complete harmony with John's Gospel. As John himself says: "But
these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God" (Jn 20:31). See also Jn 1:1-14
|
| |
| Lion |
- |
stands for kingly majesty |
represented by MATTHEW |
| Ox |
- |
speaks of patient service |
corresponds with MARK |
| Man's Face |
- |
expressing humanity |
as in LUKE |
| Eagle |
- |
with its soaring wing, lofty flight and divine majesty |
is in harmony with JOHN |
NOTE:
Three of these living creatures WALK ON THE EARTH,
so the
"synoptics" (Matthew,
Mark, Luke) tell of Christ's life on the earth. |
John soars as an eagle ABOVE THE
CLOUDS of human infirmity
and reveals to us the mystery of the Godhead. |
KEY TO THE FOURFOLD GOSPEL
|
Gospel |
Written To |
Shows Jesus As |
Records |
Main Thought |
Prominent Word |
Matthew
Lion-King |
Jews |
Messiah-King |
Discourses |
Kingship |
Fulfilled |
Mark
Ox, Servant |
Romans |
Servant of God |
Miracles |
Service |
Straightway |
Luke
Human |
Greeks |
Perfect Man |
Parables |
Humanity |
Compassion |
John
Eagle |
Church |
Son of God |
Discourses |
Deity |
Believe |
NOTE:
Information on the Correlation taken from “Outline Study of the
Bible” by William Evans – Moody Press.
Click on
MAP
to see the Kingdom of Herod
the Great, as it was divided during the ministry of Jesus Christ.
(End of the Introduction)
Bibliography
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