The Four Gospels:

1

• The Four Gospels
• Matthew Mark, Luke, and John

The Synoptic Gospels Matthew
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The Four Gospels Matthew

• Although Matthew is the first book in the New
  Testament, it probably wasnt written first.
• Records historic facts that form the basis of our
  faith.
• Explains the details revealed about Christs
  earthly life.
• Good news
• Every valuable fact about Jesus learned ONLY from
  the gospels!

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The Four Gospels

• Events that paved the way for the spread of the
  gospel
• Career of Alexander the Great
• Rise of the Roman Empire
• Dispersion of the Jews
• Greek gave the world unity of language.
• Rome brought social order and roads on which to
  travel.
• Scattering Jews undermined heathen religions.

4
The Four Gospels

• The gospel was first preached in Jerusalem.
• Preached in the Greek language.
• Early Christians were scattered throughout the
  Roman world.
• Inscription above the cross was in Hebrew, Greek,
  and Latin languages.
• Testimony of Christs claims. He suffered to
  unite all nations into one family of God!

5
The Four Gospels

• In many ways, Matthew, Mark, and Luke are alike,
  while at the same time being unlike John.
• This is why Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called
  synoptic gospels.
• The synoptic gospels dwell on Jesus ministry in
  Galilee John features the ministry in Judea.

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The Four Gospels

• Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us the detail of one
  of Jesus visits to Jerusalemthe one that ended
  with His crucifixion.
• John records the four Jerusalem visits prior to
  that last one.
• First three miracles, parables, addresses to the
  multitudesmore objective
• Fourth emphasizes spiritual meaning and is more
  subjective

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The Four Gospels

• Each writer had a distinctive purpose in view.
• Matthew 11 Mark 11 Luke 11-4
  John 2030,31
• Written gospel messages were preceded by the oral
  preaching of the messages.
• Each gospel was directed toward a certain class
  of people.
• Matthew primarily to the Jews
• Mark wrote from the Roman point of view
• Luke addressed the Greeks
• John is sometimes called the universal gospel.

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The Four Gospels

• The Holy Spirits superintending and directing
  power prevailed in the selection of the contents
  of the books.
• John 1526 2 Peter 120,21
• Use of human personalities, experiences, and
  abilities, with Divine guidance from the Holy
  Spirit.
• Books begin with Jesus birth conclude with His
  ascension.

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Matthew the Author

• Matthew was well-equipped for the task of writing
  to the Jews.
• A tax collector under Herod Antipas
• Knew his native tongue (Hebrew, or Aramaic)
• Name changed from Levi to Matthew
• Humble referred to himself as a publican
• Recorded no incidents concerning himselfa humble
  and retiring position

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Matthew When Written

• First of the four gospels written
• The church would need such a history from the pen
  of an actual apostle.
• Must have predated the destruction of Jerusalem
  (Matthew 24)
• Probably written between A.D. 55 and 68

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Matthew Purpose of His Gospel

• A link between the Old and New Testaments.
• Beginning of NT appropriate time for the Jewish
  reader.
• Gospel of the Messiahthe anointed one.
• To trace Christs genealogy back to Abraham.

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Matthew Purpose of His Gospel

• Two-fold purpose
• To connect the message of the Old Testament with
  the gospel
• To demonstrate the fulfillment of the
  Old-Testament prophecies through the coming of
  Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, the King.

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Matthew Calls Attention to

• Jesus as the Messiah, King
• kingdom50 times
• kingdom of heaven33 times
• kingdom of God5 times
• the King
• Matthew 22 215 2211 2534 2711, 37, 42

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Matthew Calls Attention to

• Only Matthew traces Christs genealogy back to
  Abraham.
• Matthew gives the story of the visit of the Magi
  who brought gifts to the newborn King.
• Only Matthew refers to Jesus being born king of
  the Jews.
• Only Matthew cites the prophecy of the ruler
  coming out of Bethlehem.
• Only Matthew gives John the Baptists message,
  the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

15
Matthew Calls Attention to

• Christs kingship is asserted, confessed, and
  proven through fulfillment of prophecy.
• Recognition of His person (Matt.1613-18)
• Pronouncement of His authority (Matt.2818-20)
• His claim that His teaching constituted law
  (Matt.724-29)
• Contrast between human genealogy and miraculous
  birth (Matt.1)

16
Matthew Calls Attention to

• All who were in His line of descendancy were
  transient, but He is eternal. (Hebrews 723-25)
• All in His human lineage were sinful, but He
  lived without sin.
• They were earthly He was heavenly (second Adam).
• They were Jews He was Gods Son. (Jno.11-11
  Heb.105 Phil.25-11)

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Matthew Gospel of Fulfillment

• Cited 40 proof passages from OT
• Genesis 123 Galatians 316 2 Samuel 712
• Some of the prophetic fulfillments
• Micah 52-place of birth (21)
• Isaiah 714-born of a virgin (118-23)
• Jeremiah 3115-massacre of infants (216)
• Hosea 111-flight into Egypt (214,15)
• Zechariah 1112-sold for 30 pieces of silver
  (2615)

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Jesus, the Promised Messiah

• Refers to OT scriptures with which the Jews were
  familiar.
• that it might be fulfilled which was written in
  the prophets, saying..
• Contrasts Christianity with the Pharisees
  concept of righteousness.
• Words righteous and righteousness occur more
  often in Matthew than in the other three gospels
  combined!

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Matthew Sermon on the Mount

• Sets forth spiritual principles of righteousness
  and the Kingdom of God.
• Jesus affirmed regard for law. (517)
• Demanded a standard of righteousness far above
  the outward appearances of the Pharisees. (520)
• God, the perfect example. (548)
• Christs authority - superior to the
  authority of Moses.
• But I say unto you

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Matthew Sermon on the Mount

• Differences in conformity not just outward
  requirementsbut requirements for the heart!
• Obedience a must. (721-27)
• Gods judgment against the Jewish nation and
  impending destruction in retribution for their
  unfaithfulness. (24)
• Justice and righteousness part of Gods
  nature.

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Matthew Contents and Character

• Introduction(11411)
• The genealogy
• Jesus birth and childhood
• Preparatory work of John the Baptist
• Jesus baptism
• Temptations in the wilderness

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Matthew Contents and Character

• Jesus ministry(4121621)
• Galilee, the starting place
• Jesus words and acts
• Sermon on the Mount and ten miracles
• Sermon to the twelvecall to apostleship
• His teachingseven consecutive parables
• Human traditions make void the word of God.

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Matthew Contents and Character

• From this time forth(162121)
• The Transfiguration (171-8)
• The need for humility in the kingdom (1815-20)
• Open rejection from religious leaders
• The rich young ruler (1916-22)
• Foretelling His suffering (2026-28)
• Triumphant entry into Jerusalem (21)
• Rejection and unbelief (22)

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Matthew Contents and Character

• Conflict with leaders, and death ending in
  victory(2312820)
• Rebuking the hypocrites (23)
• Foretelling Jerusalems destruction (24)
• Parables-10 Virgins and Talents (251-30)
• A glimpse into final judgment (2531-46)
• Plot to take His life and the betrayal (26)
• Crucifixion (27)
• Resurrection, ascension, and the Great Commission
  (28)