Why Were There Four Gospels?

God’s Message For All Mankind The Bible  Focus  Theme  Purpose Whatever you call it, it is very important.

 Many problems have resulted when we fail to recognize the authority of God’s Word in our lives.  Many other problems have occurred when we don’t rightly understand what is written. The Most Important Message

By the same token, if we do not understand the why of God’s Word, we may miss the most important message of all.

Why did God write the Bible? That will be our fundamental question for this lesson! And why four gospels? Especially the New Testament?

From Genesis to Revelation, there is one central purpose which could be written at the top of every page:

The one overall theme or purpose of the Bible is missionary in its concept.

 Himself  His law  His desire  His plan God Chose To Reveal… He is reaching out to all men of all time with the missionary purpose of saving all who will come to Him.

“God is walking through every page of the Bible looking for man, just as He walked through the Garden of Eden looking for him.” As one writer put it:

The Messiah has arrived! What the Old Testament spoke of and promised since man’s fall in the Garden of Eden (thousands of years previously), the New Testament proclaims in fulfillment. What Abraham’s descendants looked for and longed for -- the Messiah, the Savior of the world -- has now arrived.

The Four Gospels  The first four books of the New Testament, the Gospels (good news), are written by four different evangelists (form of the same word gospel), proclaiming the ONE gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are not purely biographical for they are openly evangelistic.  They have good news to tell and they are going to tell it!

The intent of the one gospel, written by four different men, was to make us all missionary in our focus. In other words, we are to be “gospelers” if you will.

The Gospel of Matthew  Matthew’s gospel has held the first place in our listing of New Testament books since the second century.  It was not the first of the gospels to be written, but it forms a perfect link between the Old and New Testaments.  The Gospel According to Matthew was written mainly to a Jewish audience. Reaching the Jewish Mind

Matthew’s Opening Verse: “This is the family history of Jesus Christ. He came from the family of David. David came from the family of Abraham” An introduction like this would be important to the Jewish mind!

Look at his use of O.T. quotes  “make clear the full meaning of what the Lord had said through the prophet” (Matthew 1:22)  “In the town of Bethlehem in Judea. The prophet wrote about this…” (Matthew 2:4-5)  “John the Baptist is the one Isaiah the prophet was talking about” (Matthew 3:3)  “This was written about John in the Scriptures…” (Matthew 11:10, quoting Mal. 3:1)  “Jesus answered, Surely have you read in the Scriptures…” (Matthew 19:4)

Matthew uses the Old Testament in his gospel more than any of the other gospel writers. There are 40 direct quotes from the Old Testament. That would impress a Jewish mind!

The thrust of Matthew’s account was to reach the Jewish mind and make believers with a missionary heart!

The Gospel of Mark  Although Mark tells the same story as Matthew, he uses a different set of eyes and sets forth an account suited for the vast Roman populace.  His message is ultimately the same--the Savior has come!  The Gospel According to Mark was God’s way of reaching out to a Roman audience. Reaching the Roman Mind

Mark’s Opening Verse: “This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God”

 Whereas Matthew begins his account by showing Jesus’ genealogical ties to David and Abraham, Mark goes all the way back to the Lord’s true heritage--God.  This would have a great impact on the Roman mind.

Explanation of Jewish Customs “The Pharisees and all the Jews never eat before washing their hands in this special way. They do this to follow the teaching given to them by the great people who lived before them.” (Mark 7:3)

Explanation of Jewish Customs “This was Preparation Day. (That means the day before the Sabbath day.)” (Mark 15:42)

 Now to whom would the author need to explain Jewish or Aramaic terms and customs?  It wouldn’t be the Jew, it was the Roman mind.

Mark’s Use of Action  The Roman people were constantly busy. They extolled the virtue of activity.  Mark wrote them a brief, but bustling account of the Lord’s deeds and teachings.  He records 19 miracles performed by Jesus, but only 4 of His parables.  Mark’s most common expression is straightway or immediately, found 42 times.

Mark’s Use of Power  The Romans also loved power and gloried in strength, often using intimidation to get what they wanted.  Mark does not picture the Savior as using intimidation or scare tactics, but he does masterfully show the Lord’s power in the miracles he records.  Mark does not record hundreds of one- disease miracles, but shows Jesus’ power over everything. Mark took the Roman’s love for power and turned it around to show them the Savior’s power of love.

 Has 66 books  But did we remember that all but two of them, Luke and Acts, were written by Jews? We All Know That The Bible…

The Gospel of Luke  Matthew wrote to the Jewish audience; Mark wrote for the Roman populace. Luke now joins in on the work, telling essentially the same story, and primarily addresses the Greek or Gentile world.  “Luke the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14) was a well educated and intellectual Greek.  He wrote Luke & Acts in a Vol. 1 & 2 format. Reaching the Greek Mind

There is a unique feature found only in Luke and Acts--a dedication--as both books are addressed to a man named Theophilus.

Luke’s Opening Introduction: “ 1 Many have tried to give a history of the things that happened among us. 2 They have written the same things that we learned from others—the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message. 3 I myself studied everything carefully from the beginning, your Excellency.” “ 4 I write these things so that you can know that what you have been taught is true.” The Greeks emphasized culture, learning and education, so this introduction would certainly appeal to them.

The Genealogical Record  Matthew traced Jesus’ genealogy back to David and Abraham (for the Jewish mind)  Luke traced His record even further, all the way back to Adam (3:38).  In this way, Jesus would have universal appeal, the Savior of all men, not just the Jews.  To the shepherds: “Don’t be afraid, because I am bringing you some good news. It will be a joy to all the people.” (2:10)

The Unfortunate & Disenfranchised  Social outcasts (7:37-50, esp. v. 39)  The Good Samaritan (10:25-37) – unique to Luke’s gospel  Tax collectors and sinners (15:1-2)  Lazarus, a deserted beggar (16:19-31)  Lepers (17:11-19)  Dying thief (23:39-43)  Many women and widows

The Unfortunate & Disenfranchised The Greeks were busy spreading their culture and language all over the world. Their intent was to better the people and improve their lives. Luke’s message of Christ would appeal to their mind.

God cares for and will save the Greek in the exact same way in which He cares for and saves the Jew. God wants His message of salvation spread. We must spread it!

The Gospel of John  Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often referred to as the synoptic gospels because they present a common view of the life, ministry, and death of Jesus.  Even a casual reading of the pages of John’s gospel shows a vast difference.  Being the last surviving apostle, he writes for a post-apostolic mind. Reaching the Post-Apostolic

The Gospel of John  John, writing near the end of the first century, seeks to preserve a more personal account of the Son of Man—detailing intimate conversations with His disciples and others He meets along the way.  As a result, John emphasizes the spiritual side of Jesus more than the synoptic writers who stress His historicity.

The Gospel of John The gospel according to John has often been called the “Universal Gospel” since it was written for the post- apostolic mind. It was God reaching out to all men who lived after the apostles.

John’s Stated Purpose: “Jesus did many other miracles before his followers that are not written in this book.” (20:30)

John’s Stated Purpose: “But these are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” (20:31)

John’s Stated Purpose: The purpose of John’s gospel was clearly missionary in intent!

 “Before the world began, there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through him. Nothing was made without him. In him there was life. That life was light for the people of the world. The Light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overpowered the Light”  “Before the world began, there was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through him. Nothing was made without him. In him there was life. That life was light for the people of the world. The Light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overpowered the Light” (1:1-5) John’s Introduction:

“The Word became a man and lived among us. We saw his glory – the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father.” (1:14)

The Golden Text: John 3:16  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son. God gave his Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.”  Why did God the Father send His Son to the world?  Is this just for the Jews? Is this just for the Romans? Is this just for the Greeks? Is this just for people living in the first century?

God, the greatest Giver, gave His Son, the greatest Gift!

“There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I think the whole world would not be big enough for all the books that would be written” (21:25) John’s Final Verse:

God wants all men for all time to be saved. God wants His message of salvation spread.

We must spread the salvation message. That’s why there were four gospels!!