Mark
Opens with the list of Jesus’
Mark opens with an
account of the preaching and
activity of John the Baptist.
The Gospel writer views
John as the messenger that
the Old Testament speaks of
as coming before the time of
final salvation. John not only
fulfills the Old Testament
prophecy, he proclaims
the coming of Jesus. Mark 1:9-
11 reports John's baptism of
Jesus. A voice from heaven
declares Jesus to be God's
beloved son.
The reader of Mark is
therefore left with
no doubt about the identity of
Jesus. He is the fulfillment of
Old Testament hopes and
is the Son of God.
Brief account of Jesus’
temptation by Satan in the
wilderness immediately
follows the opening baptism
story. ({1:13} And he was there
in the wilderness
forty days, tempted of Satan;
and was with the wild beasts;
and the angels ministered
unto him)
Is not interested in the early
life or home accounts of Jesus.
Mark focuses on the mighty
acts of Jesus more than on his
teachings .
Now wonder he Introduces
Jesus’ calling of first disciples
and class with the Pharisees
early (Chapter 1: 16 – Chapter
2:28)
Luke
Chapters 1 and 2 present the
accounts of the births of John
the Baptist and Jesus. In both
accounts the mothers receive
special attention. In the
account of Jesus' birth Luke
stresses the appearance of the
angel to Mary, the trip to
Bethlehem from Nazareth, and
the appearance of the angels
to the shepherds, who then
visit the Christ Child.
All two chapters dedicated to
accounts of births of John the
Baptist and Jesus
Assumes Bethlehem is home
to Mary and Joseph and this
family went there to be taxed
there in there homeland
according to the decree of
Augustus Caesar. (out a decree
from Caesar Augustus, that all
the world
should be taxed.
( {2:2} ([And] this taxing was
first made
when Cyrenius was governor
of Syria.) {2:3} And all went
to be taxed, every one into his
own city. {2:4} And Joseph
also went up from Galilee, out
of the city of Nazareth, into
Judaea, unto the city of David,
Matthew
ancestors (Chapter 1: 1-17)
Account of the birth of Jesus
immediately follows (Chapter
1:18- Chapter 2:14).
Particularly an angel of the
Lord tells Joseph that his virgin
wife Mary will have a son
(Matthew 1:18-21)
Matthew's story assumes that
Bethlehem is the home of the
Holy Family. Wise men visit the
birthplace after seeing the
star. Joseph takes his family to
Egypt after being warned in a
dream to flee. King Herod
slaughters all children "in and
around Bethlehem" who are
two years old or less. After
Herod's death, Joseph takes
his family to Nazareth in
Galilee rather than returning
to Judea
({2:19} But when Herod was
dead, behold, an angel of the
Lord appeareth in a dream to

After a brief reference to
Jesus' temptations in the
wilderness, Mark tells us that
John is arrested and that Jesus
then begins his preaching
career in Galilee (Chapter
1:14). Mark 1: 15
gives us Mark's summary of
the basic preaching of Jesus:
"The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God has come
near; repent, and believe in
the good news." Jesus
preaches that the age of
salvation is near. People
should prepare for the
Kingdom through repentance
and belief in the good news.
which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house
and lineage of David:) {2:5}
To be taxed with Mary his
espoused wife, being great
with child)
Luke uses poetic hymns rather
than Old Testament
quotations.
Luke does not refer to the star,
the wise men, or Herod's
persecution. Luke's account of
Jesus' birth indicates some of
Luke's major emphases:
concern for women, interest
in common people, and the
universal significance of Jesus.
Joseph in Egypt, {2:20}
Saying, Arise, and take the
young child and his mother,
and
go into the land of Israel: for
they are dead which sought
the
young child’s life. {2:21} And
he arose, and took the young
child and his mother, and
came into the land of Israel.
{2:22} But when he heard that
Archelaus did reign in
Judaea in the room of his
father Herod, he was afraid to
go
thither: notwithstanding, being
warned of God in a dream,
he turned aside into the parts
of Galilee: {2:23} And he
came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophets, He shall be
called a Nazarene).
Matthew understands all the
events associated with Jesus'
birth as fulfIllments of Old
Testament prophecies. The
first two chapters alone quote
four Old Testament passages.
This emphasis on Jesus as the
fulfIllment of Old Testament
prophecy continues
throughout the Gospel
(Chapter 2:17-18)