BIBLE STUDY METHODS 04 - Part 1 THE GOSPELS 1

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1 BIBLE STUDY METHODS 04 - Part 1 THE GOSPELS 1 The Three Synoptic Gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke are related in content to the point where they are almost synonymous. John is very different. Differences Matthew 42% Mark 7% Luke 59% John 92% Agreements 58% 93% 41% 8% Matthew Luke Mark None of these three Gospel writers gave us all the information on what Jesus said, but when you put everything they wrote together, you have a comprehensive story. The Synoptic Gospels must be studied together - as a whole! Example: Matthew 7 and Luke 6 (two of the three synoptic Gospels) contain the same narrative account. In this instance, Mark does not contain this account. (You can see from the circles diagram above that in many cases, all three overlap.) The BIGGER box beyond these two is the Synoptic Box of Matthew, Mark and Luke. This box fits an even bigger box, which contains all four Gospels. Matthew 7 Judge not or you will be judged Luke 6 Matthew 7:1-5 compared with Luke 6:41-42 Notice the similarities and differences in these verses! Matthew 7:1, 2 - Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Luke 6: Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. (synoptic!) 1 All Scriptures in this lesson are NKJV 1

2 Matthew 7:3 - And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Luke 6:41 - "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? (synoptic!) Matthew 7:4, 5 - Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? {4} Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Luke 6:42 - "Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye. (synoptic!) Another Example of Synoptic Scriptures: Matthew 4:19 Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Mark 1:17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. Luke 5:10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men. The Importance of referencing all four Gospels What was Pilate s message on the sign at the top of the cross? Taken from NKJV: Mark 15:26 - THE KING OF THE JEWS Luke 23:38 - THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS John 19:19 - JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Matthew 27:37 - THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS The full message that actually was written: THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. It takes all four Gospel accounts to get the full message! The Gospels report two elements of Jesus time on earth: 1. Narratives of Jesus actions (What He did) 2. Reports of Jesus sayings (What He taught) 2

3 The Gospel Writers Jesus was a 1 st century Jewish man. He did what Jewish men did, so he fit in this culture. The Gospel writers interpreted Jesus life and actions as they wrote. And these 1 st century writers were much different from each other. Matthew recorded Jesus as King. He wrote to the Jewish people who were expecting a king. Mark recorded Jesus as Suffering Servant. He wrote to Gentile Romans. (who knew about servants and suffering). Luke recorded Jesus as Son of Man. He wrote to the Greeks who were learned men and women. He wrote about the One who was the expected Deliverer. John recorded Jesus as the Son of God. John wrote to everyone about the deity of Christ. What Jesus did was not fully understood by the Gospel writers. This makes our ability to understand and interpret the Gospels a complex issue. Jesus Taught with Many Techniques Matthew 7:1-6, 17 (Jesus as a Picture Painting Teacher) Jesus lesson to the disciples: Hypocrisy will ultimately hurt you! At this place and time in Jewish history, a pig was the most unclean animal there was. Nobody would think of feeding swine, much less giving them something extremely valuable (pearls) to defile. Vs.17 Look at the imagery! Jesus used the illustration of a fruit tree. He paints a picture that is just as ridiculous as throwing pearls to swine. Grapes do not grow on thorn bushes and figs do not grow on thistles. His listeners understood exactly where He was going with His illustrations. His point - It is just as ridiculous to judge others from a basis of our own goodness or perfection! Look at this picture! What idea do you think Jesus verbal illustration represents? See Matthew 15:14 & Luke 6:39. These two verses are synoptic. They paint the same highly visual picture to make the point! (Luke 6:37b) Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch 3

4 There were many techniques with which Jesus painted word pictures. 1. Purposeful overstatement (hyperbole) Matthew 5:29-30 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you {30} "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 2. Proverbs. (A proverb is not a parable.) A proverb is a short saying that expresses an obvious truth. John 11:25b He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 3. Simile - Look for the word LIKE or AS. An expressed comparison. Matthew 13:24b "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;" 4. Metaphor - An implied comparison. Matthew 5:13a You are the salt of the earth 5. Irony - Think of this as the opposite of humor, or as sarcasm. John 10:33-34 The Jews answered Him, saying, For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God. {34} Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods? 6. Questions Luke 10:36 "So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" 7. Poetry Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8. Gospel Stories - These are stories that end with a proverb. (See number 2, above.) (Mark 12:13b-17 NKJV) Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? {15} "Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?" But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, "Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it." {16} So they brought it. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, Caesar's. {17} And Jesus answered and said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marveled at Him. 9. Parables - We will look at parables in depth later. 4

5 Organizing your Interpretation of the Gospels? A. Think in a linear way. (see the additional handout describing the complete picture of Jesus trials.) B. Think beyond the surface of the story. Dig to find its meaning. Look at Matthew 20:1-16 This is a simile and a parable in one story. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF JESUS TEACHING? WHO WAS HE TEACHING? (Go to a bigger box for the answer.) C. Look for the KEY WORDS. Example: Key words in the Book of John: The word believe occurs 98 times. (Verb form of faith ) The word faith or belief never occurs in John. ( Faith or belief is the noun form of believe ) Why? Faith or belief is what you have. Believe is what you do. John s purpose: Believe! The word life occurs 36 times. Sign (miracle) Why do you think John used the word sign in place of miracle? I Am is used often. Do you know the 7 I AM s? They lead to the 8 th I AM: 8:58 When the Pharisees heard Jesus say, before Abraham was, I AM, What did they understand Him to mean? Truth (See also - John s Epistles. Truth is one of John s key words!) Knowing Father Jewish people could not even write Jehovah They would have to write some squiggly lines. They would throw away the quill after writing the symbols. Jesus shocked them! First he called himself I AM and then called God Farther. 5