To gain a deeper understanding of the Gospels is vital to the life of any follower of Jesus Christ. They contain the most information on the life of our Lord and reveal the real power of love.

It helps to have knowledge of some historical context, spiritual insight, and personal application of His teaching. Knowledge we need to effectively present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Culturally

The writers of the Bible were influenced by where they were, what they saw and what they experienced. Throughout the Bible there is cultural content.

The Bible is a ‘Jewish’ book written for the most part for the Jews. They are God’s chosen people, Deuteronomy 7:6-8, and are in covenant relationship with God Almighty, the great I Am that I Am, Exodus 3:14.

New Testament believers are adopted into the family of God through the New Covenant, sealed and mediated by Christ, Ephesians 1:5.

Jewish Factions

The Gospels reveal much of the way of life at the time Jesus dwelt among men, John 1:14. Yet, within the community where Jesus walked, there were several factions of Jewish life. The Sanhedrin were the Jewish Council who decided all religious matters. The Pharisees were dedicated to keeping the law.

Sadducees were a politically motivated group who compromised with the Roman authorities. The wealthy Herodians supported Herod the Great, the puppet of Rome. Zealots were Jews who wanted to overthrow Roman rule by terrorism. The Samaritans lived in Judea and Galilee but were despised by the Jews because of their mixed blood.

While the Romans ruled, Jesus introduced a completely new and radical way of thinking. He declared the Kingdom of God was at hand, Matthew 4:17, as prophesied by the Jewish prophets of old. Jesus did not come to overthrow Roman rule, as some of His disciples hoped.

Synoptic Gospels

Matthew, Mark and Luke are referred to as the ‘synoptic gospels’. That is because they are similar to one another with complementary perspectives. While they have much common information, there are unique distinctions in each one. Written in different styles and to different audiences. Together they enrich and deepen our understanding of the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

Mathew, Mark and Luke were written between 50 to 60 AD.  At the same time, the Pauline letters were written between 55 – 67 AD.

Distinctions

Each Gospel writer had a particular purpose for writing. However, the Holy Spirit is the true author of the entire Bible. There is always harmony in all the writings. 

Matthew, Mark, or Luke may each have a slight variation, when describing the same event. This deepens the reader’s understanding of what happened. However, it is important to read the ‘small print’ and not confuse some incidents as being one and the same event.

This particularly applies to the physical anointing of Jesus. The first anointing was early in His ministry, by a ‘woman of the city’, Luke 7:36ff. The second anointing took place six days before the Passover and was done by Mary, John 12:1ff. Then the third anointing was by an unknown woman two days before the Passover, Matthew 26:1ff. There is no confusion when you read it carefully.

Gospel Symbolism

Each Gospel is written to a different audience revealing a unique aspect of Christ.

Gospel	Focus	Portrait of Jesus	Audience
Matthew	Jesus as the Jewish Messiah	King	Jews
Mark	Jesus as the suffering servant	Servant	Romans
Luke	Jesus as the Son of Man	Perfect Man	Greeks
John	Jesus as the Son of God	Divine Son	All believers/the Church

The Gospels describe what happened through the life, death and resurrection of Christ. However, the writing was done in hindsight, some 20 to 30 years later.  

Each of the Gospels have distinctive symbolism that is reflected from elsewhere in the Bible.

Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
Faces as seen in Ezekiel 1:10; Rev 1:4 Lion – King	Ox – Servant	Man – Perfect Man	Eagle – Divine Son

The Authors

Matthew – Gospel written 50-60 AD

He was one of the 12 disciples and under the age of twenty at the time of his discipleship, as were the majority of the disciples. Only Peter and Jesus had to pay the temple tax, Matthew 17:24-27, which was levied on males over the age of twenty.

Matthew was a despised tax collector who worked for the Romans before his conversion. His Gospel is very factual as only an accountant would think. Matthew quotes the Old Testament around 128 times. There is 42% of unique material in this Gospel.

Matthew referred to Jesus as the Son of David and the Son of Abraham, for the emphasis was on the Kingdom of God. He saw Jesus as the Messiah and the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy.

Mark – Gospel written the same time as Matthew’s Gospel

It is believed the young man who fled naked from the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested, was actually Mark, Mark 14:51,52.

Mark’s mother was wealthy and played a prominent role in Jerusalem society. He failed on Paul’s first missionary trip. Barnabas split from Paul through an argument over Mark, Acts 13:4-12. However, Paul sent for Mark just before his death, 2 Timothy 4:11.

It is believed that Mark received much of his information from Peter. There is only 7% of unique material in his Gospel. His writing centred on the acts of Jesus and presents Him as the Son of God in action. He quotes the Old Testament around 90-100 times.

Luke and John

Luke – Gospel written around 60 AD – the Greeks

He is the only Biblical Gentile author, and was the beloved physician to Paul. He portrays Christ as the Son of Man. Though not one of the 12 disciples, Luke was an eyewitness to the life of Christ, Luke 1:2. He also wrote the book of Acts around 61 AD.

Luke had 59% unique material in his Gospel and alludes to the Old Testament 63 times. He saw Christ as the compassionate Son of Man. It was written for the Greeks, or Gentile audience.

John – Gospel written between 85-90 AD – the Dispersed Church.

John was a Galilean and one of the three of the inner circle of disciples: Peter, James and John. He referred to himself as the disciple Jesus loved, John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7. He saw Jesus as the Divine Son of God and focused on the nature and Person of Christ. 

John quoted the Old Testament around 20 times, but he had 92% unique material. This Gospel is a great book to get new converts to start reading the Bible.

John became a prominent figure in the early church in Jerusalem. In AD 70 the Temple was destroyed and Jews entered the great Dispersion, spreading far and wide across Europe and other countries. If this John is also the writer of the book of Revelation, as most scholars believe, he would have to have been 79 plus when he started writing.

Deeper Understanding of the Gospels

Reading and understanding the New Testament must always be backed by the realization that the Old Testament concealed what the New Testament reveals. We are privileged to live this side of Calvary and Pentecost and have an understanding the Old Testament prophets did not. We also have the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us, John 14:26.

In gaining a deeper understanding of the Gospels you see the Father’s heart and the uniqueness of Christianity, through the Person and mission of Jesus Christ. Whereas the Pauline letters expound on what the life, death and resurrection of Christ means in every believer’s life, now and for all eternity.

Photo Source

Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a freelance writer and servant of the Lord who enjoys researching a topic and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God.

Check out our other posts at Whispering Encouragement. We are here to inform and encourage. Subscribe for free so you can keep up to date with topics that interest you.

________________________Whispering Encouragement_______________________