GOSPEL OVERVIEWWeek 2: The Gospels of Matthew and LukeNovember, 2015

Saint Anne Adult Forum

CLASS OVERVIEW– THE GOSPELS

• Week #1• Overview & Context• Gospel of Mark

• Week #2• Gospel of

Matthew• Gospel of Luke

• Week #3• Gospel of John• Recap & Reflection

Key Question: Why Does God (or His Church) Want/Need 4 Different Gospels?

RECAP OF MARK’S GOSPEL

• First Gospel, written late 60’s or early 70’s• Shortest Gospel• Presents a very human Jesus• Cross is central story, the Passion and Resurrection

of Jesus• Portrays the disciples in an unflattering light• Audience was group of Christ-followers living in

Rome

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Life of Jesus (0 – 32 AD)

Oral Tradition, Epistles, Sermons (30 – 70 years)

Mark(66 – 72

AD)

Matthew & Luke

(80’s AD)John

(90’s AD)

THE OTHER SYNOPTICS

• Matthew & Luke are similar to Mark in style and content, with a significant amount of overlap

• At the same time, there are a number of differences• Items found in both Matthew and

Luke• Stories found only in Matthew• Stories found only in Luke

• Does this structure provide us with any clues regarding timing, background, or source of the material?

Matt 1:1-6, copied c. 250AD

THE TWO-SOURCE HYPOTHESIS

Source: Powell, p. 97

MATTHEW – AUTHOR, AUDIENCE, LOCATION

Author• Uncertainty re author, but devout and educated

Christian• Knowledgeable about Jewish scriptures, although

made some of the same errors about Israel as MarkDating• Had access to Mark and Q• Addressed issues of concern in period after

destruction of the temple• Consensus is late 70’s or 80’s ADAudience• Addresses issues appropriate to those in a more

urban, prosperous setting than Galilee• Commonly associated with Antioch, in Syria

MAJOR THEMES - MATTHEW

Attitude Towards Judaism• Served as basis for much historical anti- Semitism• Refers to “their” synagogues (4:23, 12:9, 13:54)• Condemns “scribes and Pharisees” as blind guides,

blind fools, snakes, a “brood of vipers” (3:7, 12:34, 23:33)

• Assigns responsibility for Jesus’ death to the Jewish people:• “And all the people answered: “His blood be on us and on

our children” (27:25)

MAJOR THEMES - MATTHEW

Reasons for Hostility• Destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD.

Jews responded with “…a greater emphasis on Jewish identity and the social boundaries that maintained that identity and distinguished Jews from non-Jews.” (Borg, p. 217)

• Growing number of Gentile Christians

• Separation from mainstream Judaism• Persecution (ostracism) from non-Christian Jews

At time of Matthew, Christianity was starting to look less like a variant of Judaism, and more like a distinct

and separate religion

MAJOR THEMES - MATTHEW

God’s Presence Matthew writes of how God has come to dwell among his people and transform their livesThree facets of this presence:1. God is present in Jesus

(1:23), and is worthy of worship

2. Jesus is present in the church (18:20; 28:20) and its members

3. The church is present in the world (10:7-8, 16; 5:13-14; 16:18)Matthew emphasizes that the presence of God on Earth, in the person of His son, will transform this

world

MAJOR THEMES - MATTHEW

Jesus as a TeacherThe role of Jesus as a Jewish teacher or rabbi is prominent, and book is structured around 5 main teachings:• Sermon on the Mount (ch 5-7)

• Missionary Discourse (ch 10)

• Parables Discourse (ch 13)• Community Discourse (ch 18)

• Eschatological Discourse (ch 24-25)

MAJOR THEMES - MATTHEW

DiscipleshipHow does God want people to live? The Sermon on the Mount contains many of these instructions:• Jesus wants followers to be

perfect (5:48), keeping all commandments (5:18-19)

• In ways that stem from sincere motives (6:2-6)

• Reflecting inner purity, not just external compliance (5:21-22, 27-28)“Sermon on the Mount represents an ethic that

Christians are to live into, striving to live in the present as they are destined to live for eternity.”

(Powell, p.116)

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT MATTHEW?

• Jesus exhibits less human frailty in Matthew than in Mark

• Disciples are seen in a more positive light• Religious leaders, however, are portrayed in a more

negative way• Unique Parables:

• Weeds• Pearl of Great Price• Unforgiving Servant• Laborers in the Vineyard• The Two Sons• The Ten Bridesmaids

• Stories about the church and about Peter• Antioch connection?

LUKE– INTRODUCTION

• Luke is the longest book in the NT, and widely regarded as the most beautiful

• Extensive amount of unique material

Author• Traditionally thought to be

a physician• Highly educated; uses more

extensive vocabulary and sophisticated grammar than the other gospel authors

• Also composed Acts

LUKE– AUTHOR, AUDIENCE, LOCATION

Dating• Also had access to Mark and Q, but probably not to

Matthew• Addressed issues of concern in period after

destruction of the temple• Consensus is late 70’s or 80’s AD

Audience• Addresses issues appropriate to those in a more

urban, prosperous setting than Galilee• Commonly associated with Antioch, in Syria

STRUCTURE OF LUKE

• Luke is the longest book in the New Testament• Like Matthew, Luke “smoothed out” the language

from Mark; unlike Matthew, he also changed the material in order to appeal to a broader, more geographically & culturally diverse audience.

• While Matthew included about 500 of Mark’s 649 verses (77%), Luke only included about 350 of them (54%)

• While Matthew was organized into a series of teachings, Luke put his material into a narrative journey to Jerusalem (9:51 – 19:44)

• The first two chapters serve as something of an introduction to the themes of the Gospel, and include 5 different hymns: Ave Maria, Magnificat, Benedictus, Gloria in Excelsis, and the Nunc Dimittis

MAJOR THEMES - LUKE

• Opens and closes with scenes of people worshipping in the temple

• Includes several liturgical hymns in early chapters

• Contains 20 references to people worshipping or giving thanks to God, far more than other Gospels

• Prayer mentioned at time of Jesus’ baptism and transfiguration

• His relationship with disciples often involves prayer, including teaching them to pray and frequently encouraging them to pray

Worship & Prayer

MAJOR THEMES - LUKE

• Luke’s Gospel shows a special concern for outcasts and victims of oppression. Good Samaritan (10:29-37)

• Economically deprived people receive special attention; the very purpose of Jesus’ ministry is “to proclaim good news to the poor” (4:18)

Ministry to the Disadvantaged

• Women are very prominent in this Gospel, and there are a large number of parallel references that show how Jesus’ words apply to both men and women

MAJOR THEMES - LUKE

MAJOR THEMES - LUKE

• Salvation is a reality that is also to be experienced in the here and now• “Today…this scripture is fulfilled” (4:21)• “Today…you will be with me in Paradise” (23:43)

• Salvation is primarily liberation; from sickness, from demons, or from anything else that holds people back from experiencing life as God intends

• There is less “eschatological urgency” here than in Mark; there is an awareness that the second coming of Jesus may not be imminent (12:38), and therefore people should focus on how God would have them live their lives (24:47)

Present Availability of Salvation

WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT LUKE?• Approximately ½ of Luke’s

material appears no where else

• Unique infancy narrative (ch 1-2)

• Unique inaugural sermon (4:14-30)

• Five miracle stories and seventeen parables not found elsewhere

• Only Gospel account of Jesus’ ascension (repeated in Acts)• Good Samaritan• Lost Coin• Prodigal Son• Rich Man & Lazarus

WHO DOES LUKE APPEAL TO?

In many ways, Luke lacks a clear and consistent approach to theology, with no single message. But at the same time, it has tremendous appeal to some very different groups:

• Christians who love liturgy• Evangelists, “who love its tales of individuals who

make life-changing decisions” (Powell, p. 166)• Social activists, who appreciate its championing of

the disadvantaged among us• Those who appreciate its focus on spirituality and

prayer

RECAP

Matthew• Much material organized around a series of

teachings• Presents a more divine, less human Jesus than

Mark• Jesus came to fulfill the Hebrew scriptures, but still

portrays Jewish leaders & people in a negative light• Stressed discipleship, how God wants us to live

Luke• Longest book in the New Testament• Much material organized around a journey to

Jerusalem• Sophisticated language & grammar• Worship & prayer; ministry to the disadvantaged

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• Revisit the “Why 4 Gospels” question• Think about what each Gospel means to you. How

do you reconcile the many different facets of Jesus?