The Gospels

© John Stevenson, 2009

A four-fold method of A four-fold method of interpretation interpretation

• The literal is the plain obvious meaning.

• The moral was what it meant for human behavior.

• The allegorical meaning is what it means for our faith, beliefs or doctrines.

• The anagogical meaning is what it tells us about the future (heaven).

An example: An example: The City of Jerusalem The City of Jerusalem

• In the literal sense this meant the physical city of Jerusalem.

• Morally it could represent the human soul.

• Allegorically it could be used to represent the Church of Christ.

• Finally, anagogically, it could be referring the new heavenly Jerusalem.

Luke 9:51 Luke 9:51 When the days were approaching

for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem…

Luke 13:34 Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city

that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!

Galatians 4:25-26 Galatians 4:25-26 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in

Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother.

Hebrews 12:22-23 Hebrews 12:22-23 But you have come to Mount Zion

and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

Roman Catholic Roman Catholic ChurchChurch

Only the Church holds authority for

determining the correct meaning of

scripture

Reformed ChurchReformed Church

Scripture interprets scripture

Has historically discouraged

individual Bible study

Was based upon individual Bible study

Basic Principles of Basic Principles of HermeneuticsHermeneutics

• Scripture interprets Scripture

• The Literary Genre should be considered

• Context is Key.– Immediate Context– Context within the book– Context within the entire Bible– Historical Context

How have you studied the How have you studied the New Testament in the past?New Testament in the past?

• “Anointed One” (Greek: Christ)

• The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me (Isaiah 61:1).

• Anointing in Old Testament times.

• “You are the Christ” (Matt 16:16).

John the BaptistJohn the Baptist

• What is the significance of baptism?– Cleansing– Identification

• John was the forerunner of the Messiah

• Matthew presents John’s ministry as a new exodus event

MatthewMatthew

Jesus as the King of the Jews

MarkMark LukeLuke JohnJohnJesus as the Son

who came to Serve

Jesus as the Perfect

Teacher

Jesus as the Son of

God

The Synoptic Gospels John

MATTHEWMATTHEWIntroduction Five Sermons, each

introduced by a historical narrative

Death, Burial, and

Resurrection

• Birth• Baptism

MARKMARKIntroduction Public

MinistryDeath, Burial,

and Resurrection

• Baptism

Private Ministry

You are the

Christ!

LUKELUKEIntroduction Miracles Death, Burial,

and Resurrection

• Birth• 12 years old

Journey to Jerusalem

9:51

John the BaptistJohn the Baptist• All four Gospels emphasize

the ministry of John the Baptist.

• John is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).

• His message.– Calling for repentance– Pointing to Messiah

Baptism of JesusBaptism of Jesus

• Significance of Baptism. – Identification.

• Proclamation from the Father: This is my beloved Son (Matthew 3:17).

• Testimony of the Holy Spirit.– Significance of the Dove.– Significance of the Spirit.

Baptism of Jesus

Temptation of Jesus

Sonshipstated bythe Father

Sonshipchallengedby Satan

Second Adam is taken through a second probationary testing

MatthewMatthewProphecy:

“Those who are in darkness will

see a great light” (4:14-16)

MarkMark LukeLukeProphecy: “The time is fulfilled”

(1:15)

Prophecy: “The Spirit of the Lord

is upon Me…” (4:18-19)

“Repent for the Kingdom is at hand” (4:17)

“Repent and believe” (1:15)

“I must preach the kingdom of

God” (4:43)

Appointment of the ApostlesAppointment of the Apostles

• Apostle versus Disciple.

• They are to be Fishers of Men.

• They represent the New Israel of the New Covenant.– Twelve.– Seated on Twelve Thrones (Mt 19:28;

Rev 21:14).– Foundation stones of the Church (Eph.

2:20).

• Made by Peter

• John records a similar confession by Peter (John 6:68-69).

• Peter is speaking as the spokesmen of the Apostles.

• Jesus is THE One from God.

• Jesus reveals the Cross.

You are the Christ!

The Great ConfessionThe Great Confession

Matthew 16:18-19 Matthew 16:18-19 “I also say to you that you

are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

What is its significance?

TransfigurationTransfiguration

• Encourage those who will see the cross.

• Graphic testimony of the Law and the Prophets.

• Centrality of the Cross (Luke’s reference to “His exodus”).

• Promise of the Future.

• Testimony of the Father.

The King Comes to JerusalemThe King Comes to Jerusalem• Triumphal Entry

• Cleansing of the Temple

• A Question of Authority

Lord’s SupperLord’s Supper

• Setting of the Passover

• “This is my body”

• The New Covenant

• Promise of the Second Coming

Crucifixion and DeathCrucifixion and Death

• The Trials: With what was Jesus charged?– The real indictment– The Roman charge

• The Significance of the Cross

• “My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?”

The ResurrectionThe Resurrection

• Promised in the Old Testament (Ps 16:8-11)

• Unexpected by the Disciples

• The Ultimate Sign of Christ’s Identity

Matthew 28:18-20 Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came up and spoke

to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Did the Old Testament Did the Old Testament see Kingdom of God see Kingdom of God as present or future?as present or future?

Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever;A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Thy kingdom. (Psalm 45:6).

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,And Thy dominion endures throughout all generations. (Psalm 145:13).

Daniel 2:21-22Daniel 2:21-22I kept looking, and that horn

was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.

Daniel 2:44Daniel 2:44And in the days of those

kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.

Matthew 3:1-2 Matthew 3:1-2 Now in those days John the

Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

What were the Jewish What were the Jewish expectations of a kingdom in expectations of a kingdom in

Christ’s day?Christ’s day?

How did Jesus address those How did Jesus address those expectations?expectations?

Matthew 12:22-23Matthew 12:22-23Then a demon-possessed

man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. 23 All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”

Matthew 12:24-25Matthew 12:24-25But when the Pharisees heard

this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.” 25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

Matthew 12:26-27Matthew 12:26-27“If Satan casts out Satan, he is

divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges.”

Matthew 12:28-29Matthew 12:28-29“But if I cast out demons by

the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.”

Mark 4:33-34Mark 4:33-34 With many such parables He

was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

Matthew 13:10-12 Matthew 13:10-12 And the disciples came and

said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

Answer the Answer the Following Following

Questions:Questions:

• What is the “big idea” of the parable?

• The Kingdom is:

• The Kingdom is not:

Matthew13:3-8

The Parableof the Sower

Matthew13:24-30

The Parableof the Wheat& the Tares

Matthew 13:31-32 Matthew 13:31-32 He presented another parable

to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Matthew 13:33 Matthew 13:33 He spoke another parable to

them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

Luke 17:20-21Luke 17:20-21Now having been questioned

by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”