Synoptic Gospels

Matthew 1:1, 17; Mark 1:1, 14, 15; Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-5

GOLDEN TEXT: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”—I Timothy 1:15

THE Sunday School lessons for the ensuing six months are to be devoted to the life and teachings of Jesus. The Scripture lessons will be taken from the first three, known as the Synoptic gospels—Matthew, Mark and Luke—so called because their writings are more in the nature of a synopsis or review of the life of Jesus. The Apostle John in his gospel, gives special attention to a number of things that are not so thoroughly discussed by the Synoptists. The first three gospels give much attention to Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, while John gives the principal attention to Jesus’ ministry in Judea.

No doubt more has been written on the life of Jesus than that of any other person. And this is both natural and appropriate. The transcendent importance of the visit of Jesus from the heavenly courts, taking upon Himself the form of man, and revealing the Heavenly Father, both by His teachings and conduct in contact with mankind—cannot be over estimated.

It is a marvelous favor to mankind in general, and especially to the followers of Jesus, that the Logos, the one who had the most intimate acquaintance with the Heavenly Father and for the longest period of time, was sent to earth to take upon Himself the nature of man, and thus to manifest the character and principles of the great Creator, and to illustrate just how we must walk if we are to be associated with Him in His glorious Mediatorial Kingdom.

The Bible, God’s revelation to man, is made up of various kinds of writings. These include the historical, the typical, the prophetic, the gospel records of the life and teachings of Jesus, the epistles of the apostles, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ which He received from the Father and transmitted to John for the benefit of His church down through the age.

The types and prophecies all point to Jesus. When we observe a shadow on the ground and follow it up, we come to the subject pictured or illustrated by the shadow, then our knowledge of the substance can be greatly increased by a careful study of the object in addition to the shadow. Just so it is in the studies of the life of Jesus and His teachings. It can safely be said that nothing will pay greater dividends to the careful Bible student than a studious and detailed consideration of the life of Jesus in the gospels. “No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”—John 1:18

Our lesson for today contains a short excerpts from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and it may be of interest to consider these three characters very briefly. Matthew was one of the apostles, formerly a publican, or representative of the Roman government. Matthew, also known as Levi, was of this despised class and looked down upon by the Jews. He evidently was of a noble character and so impressed with Jesus and His teachings that when the Master invited him to become one of His special followers, he rose up and followed Him.—Mark 2:14

Mark was not an apostle, but was evidently an early convert and an associate of St. Paul in his ministry. He is supposed to have been closely associated with St. Peter, and for this reason his gospel records the recollections of Peter based upon his personal contacts with the Lord.

Luke, “the beloved physician,” was a convert and an associate of St. Paul. His devoted attendance upon St. Paul is brought to our attention in the epistles and in the Acts, and it is supposed by scholars that his gospel, and also the Acts of the apostles, reflect the thought and influence of the great apostle of the Gentiles with whom he was so closely associated.

As careful students have noted, there are slight differences in some details recorded by the several evangelists. So far from arousing any question in our minds as to their authenticity, these minor differences have exactly the other effect for, if they had been prepared by human ingenuity to mislead, no doubt they would have been in perfect accord, to the very last degree. No two persons passing through the same experience are impressed exactly alike, and each one, as he endeavors to record the incidents, would speak of some which had been overlooked by the others. The same is true in two people repeating the conversation of another. Each, equally honest and sincere, would doubtless express the same thoughts differently and one would have missed something which the other reported.

How thankful we should be that God has preserved for us the writings of these honest, humble followers of the Lord Jesus, the one who spake as no other man has spoken, the one who was the express image of the Father, the one who perfectly declared or revealed the Father. His words, His ways, and His reaction to hundreds of experiences similar to those that His followers have during their efforts to serve Him and follow in His steps, are there recorded for us. By study and meditation of them there are accomplished both our instruction and our sanctification through the truth, which He perfectly revealed and illustrated.

QUESTIONS:

What are the various kinds of writings contained in the Bible?

What is the meaning of the word “shadow” as used in the Bible?

What is the proper explanation of the slight differences to be noted in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry?

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