Page 8 - Advanced New Testament Survey Student Textbook

Another consideration when reading the various Gospel writers is to realize that each man presented a
different perspective to the stories. One viewed an event and shared the content to meet the needs of
his audience. Each author wrote to a differing audience and for a differing purpose. Matthew was
written mainly to a Jewish audience, Mark to a Roman audience, and Luke to a broader Gentile
audience.

Matthew presents Jesus as the heir of David and the fulfillment of God’s promises to Abraham. Jesus is
the King. He is the fulfillment of Israel’s expectation of a coming messianic king.

Mark shows Jesus as the Son of Man, come with authority, to teach, heal, and cast out demons. He is
presented as the true representation of what it means to be human.

Luke presents Jesus as the prophet who came to suffer for His people. He has come to save the lost and
outcast. He is presented as the Servant to mankind.

John presents Jesus as the WORD made flesh. He is the Son of God who reveals the Father. Throughout
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his Gospel, Jesus has continual fellowship with the Father and acknowledges His presence with Him.

So, as we read the various Gospels, we must consider how individual events fit within the theme of each
Gospel narrative. Notice that each author highlights different concerns about Jesus’ life and ministry.

By the way, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are considered the Synoptic Gospels. Synoptic
means to “see alike or together”. It literally means “to see with a common view.” They describe
events from a similar point of view and include many of the same stories about Jesus. Sure, they have
differences also. Matthew and Luke are much longer than Mark.

The writings of John, on the other hand, 92% unique to John and differs considerably from the other
three Gospels. John and the synoptic Gospels record only two common events: Jesus walking on the
water and the feeding of the five thousand. And while the first three Gospels tell many of Jesus’
parables, John records none of them. These differences between John and the synoptic Gospels,
however, are not contradictory, but complementary. Putting all the Gospels together in symphony only
enhances the entire view of the life of Christ! That is why God included the four Gospels to tell the
complete story of the life of Jesus Christ.
Gospel of Matthew: The King has Come!

Author
The text of Matthew doesn’t identify its author, but ever since the second century AD, Christian
tradition has ascribed this Gospel to Matthew the tax
collector—called Levi in Mark and Luke’s accounts—who
became one of Jesus’ 12 disciples (Matt 9:9; 10:3; Mark

6 https://www.biblestudymagazine.com/bible-study-magazine-blog/2018/11/21/4-gospels-4-perspectives

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