The Synoptic Gospels 4A Read Mark 1:14-15; 1:35-39; Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25; 5:1-7:28; 14:3; Luke 4:14-30; 6:20-49 and answer the following questions. 1. Who, exactly, is Herod the Tetrarch of Matthew 14:1? This is Herod Antipas, Herod the Great's son, who inherited the rule of Judea when the Romans deposed Archelaus, Herod the Great's son, for misrule during the ten years following his father's death. 2. Why did Herod the Tetrarch have John the Baptist imprisoned? Herod had married Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and John had preached about it publicly pointing out that it was unlawful for him to have done so (Matthew 14:3-5). 3. Why and when did Jesus return to Galilee from the area of the Jordan Valley where He was baptized? He returned to Nazareth when He learned that John the Baptist had been imprisoned by Herod. (Matthew 4:12, Mark 1:14, Luke 4:4) 4. What town did Jesus select in Galilee to begin his ministry there? He left Nazareth and made Capernaum the focal point of his ministry. (Matthew 4:12) 5. What Old Testament prophecy did Jesus fulfill by using this town for his ministry headquarters? Isaiah 9:1-2. This was, also, referred to by Simeon in Luke 2:32. 6. Jesus' Galilee ministry generally consisted of what types of services? He went through the surrounding region teaching in their synagogues, making a name for himself (Luke 4:14-15), and throughout Galilee He taught in their synagogues, preached the gospel of the kingdom, and healed all kinds of sickness and disease. (Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39) 7. What was the core theme that Jesus preached? "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 4:17) 8. When Jesus returned to Nazareth after He had become very popular around Capernaum what method did He use to begin his service there? As was His custom, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read (Isaiah 61:1-2). When He sat down to preach He said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 1
9. Why did the people of Nazareth reject Jesus and threaten his life? He incurred their wrath by identifying them with faithless Israelites of old, refusing to perform miracles there, and making the claim that He was equal to God. Two of His famous quotes came from this confrontation. 1) "You will say to me: physician heal yourself." 2) "I say to you: no prophet is accepted in his own country." 10. How did Jesus avoid being killed by the people of Nazareth? That is not clear. Scripture simply states that He passed through the multitude unharmed. It may have been by some supernatural power or (most likely) by a path that was cleared through the crowd by His disciples. 11. Matthew 5:1-7:29 is known by what short name? "The Sermon on the Mount" 12. Luke 6:20-46 is known by what short name? "The Sermon on the Plain" 13. Are the two sermons listed in questions 11 and 12 the same incident? No one knows, but the content seems to be similar. 14. What is a beatitude? "A Blessing" 15. How many beatitudes are contained in the beginning of the Sermon on Mount? 9; some are repeated in "The Sermon on the plain." 16. List the beatitudes. Blessed are: The poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those who mourn; they shall be comforted. The meek; they shall inherit the earth. Those who seek righteousness; they shall be filled. The merciful; they shall obtain mercy. The pure in heart; they shall see God. The peacemakers; they shall be called Sons of God. Those persecuted for righteousness sake; their's is the kingdom of heaven. You when they revile and persecute you for my sake; great is your reward in heaven. 17. What is the basic definition for the word, meek? Showing patience and humility; longsuffering. 18. List the "woes" from the Sermon on the Plain? Woe to you: Who are rich; you have your consolation. Who are full; you shall hunger. Who laugh now; you shall mourn and weep. When men speak well of you; so did their fathers to false prophets 2
19. Both sermons contain a "do not judge section." What specific guidance comes from this portion of the discourses? 1) Judge not, that you be not judged. 2) Forgive and you will be forgiven. 3) Give and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. 4) Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and ignore the plank in your own? Hypocrite! 5) Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast pearls before swine. 6) If the blind lead the blind both will fall in the ditch. 20. Both sermons have a section regarding a tree being known by its fruit. What specific guidance can you list from this section? 1) Beware of false prophets. You will know them by their fruit. They come in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 2) A good tree does not bear bad fruit nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 3) Figs are not gathered from thorns nor grapes from a bramble bush. 4) Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 21. Both sermons contain a section on love your enemies. List the nuggets of wisdom you find there. 1) Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. 2) God makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and rain falls on the just and the unjust. 3) To him who smites you on the one cheek, turn the other, also. (There is no direction as to what should be done after that.) 4) Give to anyone who asks you. 5) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 6) If someone requires you to go a mile with them, go a second with them for good measure. 22. Both sermons have sections regarding building on the Rock. What is the gist of this discourse? 1) Christ says, "Whoever comes to me and hears my sayings, and does them will be like the man who builds his house upon a rock. When the rains came and the flood dashed against it, that house could not be shaken. But the ones who call me Lord, Lord but do not do what I say are like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand. When the rains came and the wind blew, his house fell and great was the fall of it. 23. What guidance is given regarding salt and light? 1) Believers are the salt of the earth, but when salt loses its flavor it is good for nothing, is thrown out, and trampled underfoot. 2) Christians are the light of the world. 3) A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 4) Do not light your lamp and put it under a bushel. 24. What is Christ's position regarding the Law of the Old Testament? 1) He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. 2) Not one jot or one tittle (diacritical marks) will pass from the law until it is fulfilled. 3
3) Whoever breaks the least of these commandments or teaches others to break them will be called the least in the kingdom. 4) Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the religious leaders of that time - you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 25. What are the characteristics of murder? 1) Murder begins in the heart. 2) It has been said that whoever murders is in danger of the judgment, but Christ says that whoever calls his brother a fool is in danger of hell fire. (This says to me that anyone who engenders hatred toward another person of the faith is guilty of murder) 3) If you bring anything to the altar (or meeting with God) and remember that you have anything against another member of the faith, go and be reconciled with that person then come back to the altar and confer with God. 26. We all know that one of the Ten Commandments is: Thou shalt not commit adultery. What does Christ say about it? 1) If a man (or woman) lusts after a person of the opposite sex, they have already committed adultery in their heart (President Carter's famous admission). 2) This is the place where Jesus said that if your right eye causes you to sin then pluck it out, or if your hand causes you to sin then cut it off. 27. What is the guidance for marriage? 1) Marriage is sacred and binding. 2) Whoever divorces for any reason than sexual immorality causes the other person to sin. (Therefore, we should use the utmost care in the selection of our spouse; living together outside of the bounds of marriage is dealt with in a different scripture) 28. What is Jesus' advice on oaths? Do not swear by what you cannot control, but let your yes be yes and your no be no. 29. What does Christ think about doing things to be seen and applauded by other people so that they will realize how great you are? 1) Do not take actions designed for the purpose of obtaining the plaudits of other people, but rather do it for God. 2) Things done in secret will be rewarded by God; things done for man's praise is already rewarded by that praise - God ignores it! 30. What guidance is given for prayer? 1) Do not create prayers to impress people. 2) God calls persons that do so, Hypocrites! 3) Prayers made in secret (when you are one-on-one with God) are the most effective. 31. Where can the model prayer, which we know as "The Lords Prayer", be found in the Bible? Matthew 6:9-13 32. Is there guidance for fasting in these sermons? Yes! Don't be a hypocrite. Fasting is a matter between the individual and God, not a public display. 4
33. What is the guidance for hoarding treasure? 1) Do not lay up treasure on earth (beyond normal needs) where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal. 2) Lay up treasure in heaven, for where your treasure is there will your heart be, also. 34. What is the lamp of the body? The eye is the lamp of the body; therefore if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 35. How many masters can one person serve? No one can serve two masters. You will hate the one and cling to the other. You cannot serve the God of the Bible and the god of riches (mammon) at the same time. 36. What is Christ's take on worry? 1) You have no reason to worry about obtaining the necessities of life. 2) No one can add one cubit to their stature by worrying. 3) Seek first the kingdom of God and these things will be added unto you. 37. What is the value of perseverance? 1) God rewards perseverance. He tells us to keep knocking, seeking, and asking for it will be rewarded if what we ask for is in the will of God. 2) As a Father, He knows how to give good gifts much more so than we do for our own children. 3) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 38. Describe the "Narrow Way." Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many are they that go in by it. But narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life and few there are that find it. 39. What is the danger in creating a false impression of your love and loyalty for God? 1) Not everyone who says Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. 2) On judgment day a person may claim to have done a multitude of things in His name, but if it was not done for the right reason he/she will hear the words, "Depart from me; I never knew you." 5