The Four Gospels, Part 1

When you open the New Testament of the Bible you are immediately introduced to four books dealing with the ministry of Jesus Christ. These books are titled “The Gospel According to Matthew” or “Mark,” “Luke,” and “John.” The word “gospel” means good news. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote their books to tell us about the good news of God’s plan of salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ.

But have you ever wondered why there are four accounts of the life of Jesus Christ? When Jesus was crucified a placard was placed above his head proclaiming his supposed crime. The sign read “This Is The King Of The Jews” and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek (Luke 23:38). These three languages represented the dominate cultures of the Roman Empire at the time. Each gospel book was thus aimed at a particular culture.

These four books also proclaimed significant truths about Jesus Christ that needed four perspectives. The gospel writers then may be compared to four artists. They each painted a particular portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course they did this with words, God inspired words (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). We will examine these four gospels in the coming weeks. Today we begin with Matthew.

Matthew meaning "gift of God" (also named Levi) was the tax collector who left his occupation to follow Christ. He wrote primarily to the Jews. His book was written to convince the Jewish people that Jesus is the promised King/Messiah (anointed one or Christ) of Old Testament prophecy. Matthew’s gospel thus begins with a genealogy. It states “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1.)” David was Israel’s greatest king to whom God promised a descendant whose kingdom would last forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13)and which would encompass the whole world (Psalm 2; Daniel 7:13, 14). And of course Abraham was the first Jew. It also establishes Joseph, Jesus’ legal father, to be in the lineage of David (Matthew 1:16).”

The main theme of Matthew is Christ the king. Nine times Jesus is referred to as “the Son of David.” Matthew also relies heavily on Old Testament Scriptures to make his case. There are 50 direct quotations from the Old Testament, such as Matthew 1:22, 23 which reads, “’Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ ²² So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ²³ ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’”

Matthew’s gospel was also written to teach and encourage Jewish Christians. As a nation Israel had rejected Jesus, but there was still hope for the seed of Abraham to inherit the promised coming kingdom. Israel would pay a terrible price for rejecting Jesus; Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed (Matthew 24:1, 2), but a new Israel—the church, composed of both believing Jews and Gentiles, would come into existence (Matthew 21:43; Romans 2:28, 29; Galatians 3:26-29). Matthew also describes Christ’s miracles (he lists 20), but the Master’s teachings are given prominence, for example The Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5-7, the Parables in chapter 13, and the teaching on the end times in chapters 24 and 25.

Finally, even though Matthew’s primary audience was Jewish, he was also aware that the gospel and the promise of the coming kingdom are for the whole world. Thus he revealed that people will come from afar (Gentiles, the other nations of the world) to sit with the patriarchs in the coming kingdom (Matthew 8:10-12; 12:21; Revelation 11:15) and that the good news should be preached to the whole world (Matthew 28:19).

For those who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior a day is coming when Jesus shall return to establish his kingdom and renew the world. When that day occurs God’s people are assured that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 20:4).”