Lesson 5 Exploring the Gospels

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are collectively known as the gospels. The word "gospel" comes from an
Old English word that meant "good tale" or "good news."

Today the word "gospel" is used to describe the 4 New Testament books that present the life of Christ.
In a general sense, gospel is also used to describe the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the story
of Jesus is good news!

The Fourfold Gospel Account

If four witnesses should appear before a judge to give an account of a certain event, and each witness
should tell exactly the same story in the same words, the judge would probably conclude, not that their
testimony was exceptionally valuable, but that the only event which was certain beyond a doubt was that
they all agreed to tell the same story! But if each man had told what he had seen, as he had seen it, then
the evidence would be credible. And when we read the four gospels, is not that exactly what we find? The
four men tell the same story in their own way.

Matthew is the gospel of the kingdom. It was directed to Jews to show that Jesus was the promised
Messiah, the "King of the Jews."

Mark is the gospel of miracles. Mark's fast-paced account was written to a Roman audience. Mark
portrayed Jesus as God's suffering servant.

Luke is the historical gospel. Luke emphasized the humanity of Jesus, and portrayed Christ as the "Son of
Man."

John is the gospel of belief. John was written to the world to show that Jesus was the "Son of God."

The four Gospel writers presented a different picture of the Savior. This chart shows some of the unique
characteristics and key differences between the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Content Matthew Mark Luke John

Author Tax collector and Missionary with Greek doctor who Fisherman, apostle,
apostle. Also known as Barnabus and Paul. travelled with Paul. and elder. Wrote 5 NT
"Levi." Called a son by Peter. Wrote Acts as sequel. books. Died at an old
age.
Date Written 37-68 A.D. 40-65 A.D. 59-61 A.D. 80-98 A.D.
Probably written after Probably the 1st Probably written after The last gospel
Mark. gospel written. Mark and Matthew. written.
(Luke 1:1-3)
Depiction of Jesus King of the Jews Powerful Servant of Perfect Savior of Man Son of God
God
Key Verse Matthew 27:37 Mark 10:45 Luke 19:10 John 3:16
Key Words Kingdom, Fulfill Immediately, Son of Man Believe, Life, World,
Authority Father, Son
Portrait of Christ King Servant Perfect man Mighty God
Lionlike Ox like Man like Eagle Like
Angelic reminder FIRST CREATURE SECOND CREATURE THIRD CREATURE FOURTH CREATURE
Rev. 4; Ezek. 1
LIONLIKE OXLIKE MANLIKE EAGLELIKE

Style of writer TEACHER PREACHER HISTORIAN THEOLOGIAN

 Emphasis by writer His Sermon His Miracles His Parables His Doctrines
Audience Jews Romans Greeks Gentile Christians
Culture of Original
Readers

Genealogical record YES: Matthew 1:1-17 No Yes: Luke 3 23-38 No

Reason of A King must have one A servant needs none A Perfect man should God has none
including/excluding have one
Jesus Genealogy
Root of the Races the regal line of Traces the physical line
Genealogy David through his son of David through
Solomon another son , Nathan
Fruit/target of the Leads to Joseph the Leads to Mary the
Genealogy legal step father of physical mother of
Jesus Jesus
Place of Main Action CAPERNAUMINGALILEE Jerusalem in Judea
Twofold division Synoptic Gospels – Stress the humanity of Christ 4th Gospel stresses the
deity of Christ

The two Genealogies

A. Matthew’s genealogy (Matt.1:1-17)

a. His account has 41 names in it.

b. He traces the line forward in time from Abraham the father of the Hebrew race, to Joseph
(Gal. 3;16)
c. He traces the line from David through his son Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24)
d. He gives the line of Joseph

This genealogy is remarkable for several reasons:

1. It contains the names of four women. Oriental and Mid –Eastern

genealogies rarely do this.
2. All the four women have questionable backgrounds:

a. Tamar was an ex-harlot (Gen.38:13-30)

b. Rahab was an ex-harlot (Joshua 2:1)
c. Ruth was a former pagan (Ruth 1:4)
d. Bath-sheba was a former adulteress (2 Sam. 11:1-5)

B. Luke’s genealogy (Luke 3:23:38)

a. His account has 74 names in it.

b. He traces the line backward in time from Joseph to Adam the father of the human race
c. He traces the line from David through another son named Nathan (2 Sam. 5:14)
d. He gives the line of Mary
The Genealogy of Jesus Christ According to Matthew (Matthew 1:1-16 MKJV)

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham fathered
Isaac, and Isaac fathered Jacob, and Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers. 3 And Judah fathered
Pharez and Zarah of Tamar. And Pharez fathered Hezron, and Hezron fathered Ram, 4 and Ram
fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon. 5 And
Salmon fathered Boaz of Rahab, and Boaz fathered Obed of Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse, 6 and Jesse
fathered David the king. And David the king fathered Solomon of her who had been wife of Uriah. 7 And
Solomon fathered Rehoboam, and Rehoboam fathered Abijah, and Abijah fathered Asa.
8
And Asa fathered Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat fathered Jehoram, and Jehoram fathered Uzziah. 9
And Uzziah fathered Jotham, and Jotham fathered Ahaz, and Ahaz fathered Hezekiah. 10 And Hezekiah
fathered Manasseh, and Manasseh fathered Amon, and Amon fathered Josiah. 11 And Josiah fathered
Jehoiachin and his brothers, at the time they were carried away to Babylon. 12 And after the carrying
away to Babylon, Jehoiachin fathered Shealtiel, and Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel.
13 And Zerubbabel fathered Abiud, and Abiud fathered Eliakim, and Eliakim fathered Azor. 14 And Azor
fathered Sadoc, and Sadoc fathered Achim, and Achim fathered Eliud. 15 And Eliud fathered Eleazar,
and Eleazar fathered Matthan, and Matthan fathered Jacob. 16 And Jacob fathered Joseph, the
husband to be of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ According to Luke (Luke 3:23-38 MKJV)

23
Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the
son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, the son of
25
Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26
the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, the
27
son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son
28
of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29
the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, the son of
31
Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David, the son of Jesse,
32
the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33
34
the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, the son
35
of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, the son of Serug,
36
the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
37
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
38
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Name Doneva Lyn B. Medina section B date

I. Recall

1. What Gospels records Jesus’ Genealogy?

a) Matthew’s Genealogy (Matt.1:1-17)
b) Luke’s Genealogy (Luke 3:23:38)
2. What is the difference between the two genealogies of Jesus Christ
in the two Gospels
Matthew’s Genealogy Luke’s Genealogy
a) His account has 41 names in a) His account has 74 names in
it. it.

b) He traces the line forward b) He traces the line backward

in time from Abraham the in time from Joseph to
Adam the father of the
father of the Hebrew race, human race
to Joseph (Gal. 3;16)

c) He traces the line from c) He traces the line from

David through his son David through another son
named Nathan (2 Sam. 5:14)
Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24)

d) He gives the line of Joseph d) He gives the line of Mary

3. Which Gospel traced Jesus Divinity? John

4. Which Gospel is called the Gospel of the Kingdom? Matthew
5. What is a Gospel? The word "gospel" comes from an Old English word
that meant "good tale" or "good news."
6. Which Gospel is called the Gospel of beliefs? John
7. The largest of the four Gospels is Luke

II. Supply the missing information in the table below

Matthew Mark Luke John

Portrait of King Servant Perfect man Mighty God
Christ in the Lionlike Ox like Man like Eagle Like
Gospel
Style of writer Teacher Preacher Historian Theologian
Emphasis His Sermon His Miracles His Parables His Doctrines
by writer
Culture of
Original
Readers

III.Essay (5 points each)

1. Why is it necessary to have four Gospels Books?
 It is necessary to have four Gospel Books because it shows some of the unique
characteristics and key differences between the gospels that can serves as the bridge to
the believers to strengthen more their individual faith and shine through as it recalls
significant and profound events.

2. Is the differences of the gospel account a proof that one of them is wrong?

 No, because they are all connected.