A Layman’S Commentary Volume 5: Volume 5 - Books of the Gospels

CONTENTS

Gospels

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Parables

Miracles and Healings

Harmony of the Gospels

Gospels

Introduction - The New Testament consists of twenty seven books which represent the New Covenant between God and Mankind brought about by Jesus Christ Jer 31:31-34; Heb 9:15. This Covenant is the fulfilment of the Old Testament promises and provides the means for the believer to receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Heb 1:1-3; 8:7-13; 1Jn 5:11,12.

The Gospels are four independent accounts of the Person and work of Jesus - his life, acts and teaching - recorded with explanations and particular emphasis to indicate the importance of Jesus in world history. They were not intended as a continuous historical narrative or biography but a selection of specific facts and events by different individuals to show who Jesus is. They record significant details of his birth, life, death and resurrection.

The first three Gospels by Matthew, Mark and Luke are called Synoptic - ‘same seeing’ - they see from a similar view. The fourth Gospel of John was written much later and from a very different perspective.

The Authors -

Mark is believed to be the first Gospel written around AD 60. At that time basic documents about the ‘Acts of Jesus’ were available, some of which Mark incorporated. He was an assistant and fellow worker with the apostles Peter and Paul and so was exposed to their teaching and preaching, much of which he included in his Gospel. He also recorded some of Peter’s experiences as a disciple of Jesus.

Some 90% of the passages in Mark were adopted by Matthew and Luke.

Matthew was written in the early AD 60’s and was located first in the Canon of the New Testament because -

• Matthew had authority as a disciple of Jesus and an apostle

• His Gospel is a bridge between the Old and New Testaments

• It is the most extensive record of the acts and teachings of Jesus.

As well as adopting much of the content of Mark, Matthew used documents which recorded the ‘Sayings and Teachings of Jesus’ (called the Q source(s)). About 21% of Matthew is unique from his own experience with Jesus, some 56% is common with Mark and 23% comes from the ‘Sayings’.

Luke also wrote in the early AD 60’s. He did not have firsthand knowledge of Jesus but was personal physician, fellow worker and travelling companion of the apostle Paul (our dear friend, the doctor Col 4:14). He also worked with Mark Phm 1:24. During the two years Paul was under arrest in Caesarea Luke had time to investigate details and interview first hand witnesses, indicated by the personal accounts included in his writing. Some 48% of his Gospel is unique, 30% common with Mark and 22% from the ‘Sayings’. Luke also wrote the Book of the Acts of the Apostles.

John wrote around AD 90 from his own experience as an apostle and firsthand disciple of Jesus. We can conclude that John was aware of the other Gospels and assumed people would be familiar with them. He did not repeat their content except where it suited his purpose. Late in his life he saw the need to record and explain aspects from his own experience with Jesus because of the development of wrong ideas particularly about the deity of Jesus (refer to the Epistles 1 and 2 of John). He provided much interpretation and clear explanation of the significance of the important events in the life of Jesus. John showed profound insight and understanding of who Jesus is and what he had come into the world to achieve. Only 10% of his writing is common with Mark, the rest is unique.

Period – The three synoptic Gospels were written in the early AD 60’s. John was written much later around AD 90.

Theme – All four Gospels describe the ‘Good News’ - that Jesus the Son of God died on the cross to pay the penalty for sin so that anyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal (everlasting) life Jn 3:16.

• Matthew – Jesus is the Messiah, having fulfilled the promises in the Old Testament – who will save his people from sin - written for Jewish people.

• Mark – Jesus is the Son of God – who forgives sin – directed to the Gentiles.

• Luke – Jesus is the Son of Man, is Perfect Manhood and the Savior of Mankind – who came to save the lost - for the Gentiles.

• John – Reaffirming the deity of Jesus and that belief in him gives eternal life to all who accept him – written for all peoples.

This is where our Gospel message stands supreme - no other person, faith or philosophy can offer this assurance.

Confidence in the New Testament

We could expect no significant writing for 20 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus as the disciples expected his imminent return. There were many oral teachings as was common at that time with the Rabbis Lk 1:1,2; Acts 2:42. The uniform nature of the oral message of the early believers is identified in the teaching and preaching about Jesus by Peter Acts 2:14-36; 10:34-43 and Paul Acts 13:16-41; 1Cor 15:3-8 – that Jesus brings forgiveness of sins and salvation Mt 1:21; 4:23; 9:2. This is emphasized by Mark who was Peter’s interpreter and fellow worker. Then writings began to appear with the acts, sayings and teachings of Jesus - for example the Didache, ‘Teaching of the Twelve Apostles’ circulated before AD 100 with instruction about the Common Meal, the Lord’s Supper, baptism, prayer and ministry. There was also the Q source(s) used by Matthew and Luke.

The Canon or ‘measuring rod’ was used by the early church as the test for inclusion of writings as Books in the Bible -

• The author of the document had to be a recognized authority

• The facts and teachings had to be agreed by the church as a whole

• There had to be uniformity compared with those texts already accepted.

The Four Gospels were referred to by Origen in AD 134. General agreement about most of the 27 New Testament Books was reached by AD 150. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons wrote of the four Gospels, Acts and 15 Epistles in AD 180. Athanasius of Alexandria defined the 27 Books as Canon in AD 367.

The Canon of 27 Books was confirmed by the Council of Nicea AD 325; the Synod of Hippo AD 393 and Council of Carthage AD 397.

Historical Documents Fragments of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke date from AD 66 (Magdala Papyrus Mt 26:7,8,10,14,15,22,23,31 and Paris Papyrus Lk 3:23,5:36). The Dead Sea Scrolls contain fragments of Mark’s Gospel and Letter to Timothy from before AD 68 (Mk 6:52-53 and 1Tim 3:16-4:3).

A fragment of John’s Gospel was found in Upper Egypt written in Ephesus around AD 125 (Ryland Papyrus Jn 18:31-33,37,38). Major portions of the New Testament date from AD 200 (Chester Beatty Papyri). The oldest existing copy of John’s Gospel dates from AD 200 (Bodmer Papyrus II).

The Received Test (Textus Receptus) was based on the majority of the original Greek documents available and agrees with the Byzantine or Majority Test, the Syriac Peshitta ‘common’ Bible AD 150 and Italic Bible AD 157. This Text was used as the basis for Protestant Bibles.

The Codex Siniaticus and Codex Vaticanus versions date from AD 350.

Jesus as an historical person

In addition to the scriptural documents the secular record of Jesus in history is as well attested as any person from antiquity.

Factors influencing early dates for the Gospels -

• James, son of Zebedee was executed by Herod Agrippa AD 44 Acts 12:2

• James, the brother of Jesus and head of the Jerusalem church was martyred AD 62 Mt 13:55; Mk 6:3

• Nero’s fire in Rome leading to intense persecution of Christians occurred in AD 64 - this is not mentioned in the text

• Destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem was clearly foretold by Jesus and occurred in AD 68-70. This confirmed the prophetic knowledge of Jesus and would have been noted in the Gospels if it had already happened Mt 24:1,2

• Paul was in prison in Rome AD 60-62. Paul’s letters were among the first apostolic writings - Galatians was written around AD 49, others by AD 60.

Life of Jesus

Although there is uncertainty about the exact dates in the life of Jesus we may draw the following observations from the Gospel accounts -

• The birth of Jesus occurred before the death of Herod Mt 2:1. This is traditionally taken as December 5 BC. Herod’s death is reported to be April 1, 4 BC (750 Roman Era)

• It was during the census of Quirinius possibly 6-4 BC Lk 2:1,2

• John the Baptist began ministry AD 26 (in the 15th year of Tiberius – began AD 14 or possibly earlier). This was six months before Jesus began ministry Lk 1:23; 3:1-4

• The baptism of Jesus occurred at the age of 30 as required according to Jewish custom Num 4:3. This is traditionally taken as 6 January AD 27 Lk 3:23. Months of ministry in Judea and Galilee followed before Jesus attended the first Passover of his ministry April AD 27 Jn 2:13

• Temple construction began 20-19 BC and took 46 years. So the ministry of Jesus began AD 27 Jn 2:20

• Passovers attended by Jesus during his ministry –

• First Passover – April AD 27 Jn 2:13.

• Second Passover – April AD 28 Jn 5:1

• Third Passover – April AD 29 Jn 6:4

• Final Passover - April AD 30 Jn 13:1

• The crucifixion occurred at the fourth Passover - April AD 30 while Pilate was Governor of Judea AD 26-36

• Jesus spent forty days with his disciples after the resurrection Acts 1:3

• The public ministry of Jesus was some three years and five months.

The crucifixion took place on Friday at Passover, coinciding with a ‘Special Sabbath’ Jn 18:28; 19:31. John identifies the Passover of the Lord’s Supper as being taken on Thursday night - the evening before Friday the 14th day of Nisan - he would be arrested before the official meal Mt 26:17-30; Mk 14:12-26; Lk 23:54.This has been supported by astronomical records as being Friday April 7 in AD 30 - the only Friday 14th day of Nisan between AD 28 and AD 34.

Message of the Gospels

There is within the human heart a question about the existence of the universe and the meaning of life. The Gospels provide an answer - that the Eternal God who created all things for his purpose and pleasure intervened in the affairs of mankind by sending his Son to live a perfect life and die for the sin of the world so that those who believe in him may enter into a personal relationship with him both now and for eternity Rev 4:11.

Matthew

Introduction – Matthew was a Jew working as a collector of taxes for the Roman authorities when Jesus called him to become a disciple 9:9. He had literary skills and a good knowledge of the Old Testament. He intended to demonstrate that the Gospel of Jesus was not a new teaching but a continuation of the Old Testament revelation that God is working