understanding gospels

Understanding the book of Matthew

MHI Sunday Fellowship

Matthew . Mark . Luke . John

The Gospels

How to link together what God has revealed in

the Bible?

What do the Gospels reveal to us?

In the Old Testament, God makes ready for the coming of Jesus

In the four Gospels, Christ enters the world, dies for the world and builds His Church

In the Acts and Epistles, the ways are revealed in which the Lord Jesus was received and applied in individual lives

In the book of Revelation, the outcome of God’s perfect plan through Christ is revealed

Synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke John

Tells of Christ’s ministry chiefly in Galilee

Tells of Christ’s ministry in Judea

Narrates Christ’s miracles, parables and addresses to a

great number of people

Presents Christ’s deeper and more abstract speeches , His

conversations and prayers

Portray Christ in action Portray Christ in meditation and communion

“Gospel” means “good news”

The good news concerning Jesus, the Son of God, the glad story of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The good news is given to us by four writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. One gospel, with four presentations. Four pictures of one Christ are given.

The combined gospel records give us a Personality rather than a connected story of Jesus Christ.

What Is the Gospel?

One or two would not have given us a sufficient portrayal of the life of Christ.

Christ is presented as:King in MatthewServant in MarkSon of Man in LukeSon of God in John

Why Four Gospels?

There is lack of completeness about Christ’s life history in any one of the four Gospels.

Hear what John says:“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

- John 21:25

Why Four Gospels?

Let us present another answer to the question – Why Four Gospels?

Many believe Scripture uses numbers with precision, accuracy and real meaning;Seven is the perfect numberThree is the number of GodheadForty is the number of testing

Four is the number of the earth…

Why Four Gospels?

A few examples of four is the number of the earth:

Four points of the compass – North, South, East, WestFour seasons of the year – Spring, Summer, Autumn, WinterIn the parable of the Sower, our Lord divided the field into four kinds of soil. Later He said, “The field of the world” (Matthew 13:38)

If four is the earth number, how fitting that the Holy Spirit should have given us four Gospels to depict the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ

Why Four Gospels?

King – Matthew presents Jesus as King. It was written primarily for the Jew, for He is the Son of David.

His royal genealogy is given in Chapter 1 of Matthew:A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar…

…and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

Jesus in the Four Gospels

Servant – Mark depicts Jesus as Servant, written to the Romans, there is no genealogy.

Why? People are not interested in the genealogy of a servant.

More miracles are found here than in any other Gospel. Romans cared far more for deeds, little for words


Man – Luke sets forth Jesus as the perfect Man. It was written to the Greeks; His genealogy goes back to Adam, the first man.

As a perfect Man, He is seen much in prayer and with angels ministering to Him.


God – John portrays Jesus as the Son of God. Written to all who will believe, with the purpose of leading people to Christ (John 20:31).

Everything in this Gospel illustrates and demonstrates His divine relationship.


Types of People Then and Now

Gospels Then Now

Matthew Jewish people – special training in the Old Testament Scripture

and the prophetsPeople who seek to know what the

prophets have spoken, and how they are fulfilled

MarkRomans – know nothing about Old Testament Scripture. Only interested in a person who has

extraordinary powers

People who are concerned with a God “who is able”

Luke Greeks – lovers of beauty, poetry and culture

People who believes that truth is the means to happiness

JohnAll people – people everywhere

that they might believe that Jesus is the Christ

People who has a sense of need and want to receive the gift of eternal life

through Jesus Christ the Lord.

Keys to the GospelsGospels Front-Door Keys Back-Door Keys

Matthew King – not chosen by popular ballot but by birth. Genealogy

givenHear the King commissioning His

disciples in Matthew 28:18-20

MarkServant - No genealogy. No one is interested in the genealogy of

servantIs pictured as still laboring with His

disciples in Mark 16:20

LukeMan – Genealogy all the way back to Adam. Presented as

ideal ManThe perfect Man is ascending to the

Father in Luke 24:51

JohnGod – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with

God and the Word was GodSignificant portrayal of the greatness

of God in John 21:25

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.“

- Matthew 28:18-20

Keys to the Gospels

Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

– Mark 16:20

Keys to the Gospels

While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

– Luke 24:51

Keys to the Gospels

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

- John 21:25

Keys to the Gospels

Understanding the book of Matthew

Next up in MHI Sunday Fellowship

Matthew links us up with the Old Testament.

On every page he is trying to connect the Gospel with the prophets and show that all of their teaching is being fulfilled in the person and kingdom of Jesus Christ

Matthew portrays Jesus Christ as King, the Promised Messiah

Brief Outline of Matthew

understanding gospels

Spiritual