A Comparison of the Four Testimonies
Each of the Testimonies gives an account of the thirty-three years of Jesus’
earthly life; yet each had some peculiarities and unique features of its own. Some
material can be found in all four of the records, some in three, some in two, and some in
only one.
The following chart shows the percentage of information that is common to all the
records and the percentage that is particular to an individual writer.
Book
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Exclusive Material
42%
7%
59%
92%
Common Material
58%
93%
41%
8%
From the above we see that 93% of the material in Mark is included in the other
records, while only 8% of the information in John is included in the others, and so forth.
Matthew
Main emphasis is toward the Jews:
a. Apparently written to and for Jewish readers.
b. Places great emphasis on fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and presents
Jesus as the fulfillment of that prophecy.
c. Note Matthew’s use of the Old Testament:
Matthew 2:15—“Out of Egypt….”
Matthew 2:17-18—“spoken by Jeremy [Jeremiah].”
Matthew 2:23—“He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Matthew 27:9—“Thirty pieces of silver.”
d. Has several lengthy discourses. Examples: Sermon on the Mount (chapters 57); instruction to the Twelve (chapter 10); rebuke to the Pharisees (chapter
23); the Second Coming (chapter 24).
Some material exclusive to Matthew:
a. Visit of the wise men; a star in the east. (Matthew 2:1-12)
b. Flight into Egypt. (Matthew 2:13-14)
c. Slaying of the Bethlehem children. (Matthew 2:16-18)
d. Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5, 6, 7)
e. Ten parables that the others do not have.
Some peculiarities of the book of Matthew:
a. He alone mentions the circumstances of Jesus’ paying tribute to the tax
collector of Capernaum. (Matthew 17:24-27)
b. He alone mentions “sealing the stone and setting a watch” at the tomb.
(Matthew 27:66)
c. Concerning Matthew’s feast for Jesus and some publicans, both Mark 2:15
and Luke 5:29 indicate that it was Matthew who gave the feast, but Matthew’s
account tends to keep him anonymous. (Matthew 9:9-13)
Mark
Main emphasis is on the doings of Jesus:
a. Written to Gentile (most likely Roman) members of the Church.
b. Apparently used Peter as chief source of information.
c. Emphasis is upon acts rather than upon teachings and discourses. No long
sermons.
d. Great emphasis upon miraculous events.
e. Seems to emphasize the Galilean ministry rather than Jesus’ ministry in Judea.
Some material exclusive to Mark:
a. One exclusive parable. (Mark 4:26-29)
b. A young man wearing a sheet. (Mark 14:51-52)
c. Signs that follow believers. (Mark 16:17-18)
Some peculiarities of the book of Mark:
a. Explanation of Jewish terms and phrases. These explanations are not found in
corresponding passages in Matthew of Luke. (Mark 7:2; 7:34; 5:41; 2:26; 7:213) This is probably because Mark wrote to non-Jews who, without some
explanation, would not understand Jewish phrases, geography, and culture.
b. An anonymous reference to himself? (Mark 14:51-52)
c. Emphasis upon Jesus’ physically resting. Eleven places mention Jesus resting;
this is more than in any other record.
d. The only one to mention that Jesus was a carpenter. (Mark 6:3)
Luke
Main emphasis is on the universality of Jesus’ teachings:
a. Written to Theophilus, a Gentile Christian acquaintance. (Luke 1:1-4)
b. Emphasis upon Jesus’ teachings, especially the parables.
c. Apparently used Paul as a major source of information.
d. Has a strong Gentile appeal, as contrasted with the Jewish emphasis in
Matthew.
Some material exclusive to Luke:
a. Visits of Gabriel to Zacharias and to Mary. (Luke 1)
b. Births of John the Baptist and Jesus, circumcision, Anna, and Simeon’s
prophecies. (Luke 1, 2)
c. Jesus at the temple at age 12. (Luke 2:41-52)
d. Twelve parables that the others do not have.
e. Only one to mention the Seventy. (Luke 10:1-25)
f. Only one to tell of Jesus’ sweating blood. (Luke 22:44)
g. Jesus’ discussion with a thief about paradise. (Luke 23:39-43)
h. Jesus eating fish and honey after resurrection. (Luke 24:41-43)
Some peculiarities of the book of Luke:
a. Special attention to illness and medical terms—circumcision, Jesus sweating
blood, withered right hand, leprosy, healing of Malchus’s ear.
b. Emphasis on prayer. More frequent mention of prayer that any of the other
records.
c. More attention to women and stories about women than any of the other
records.
d. An emphasis on individual salvation, and the salvation of Gentiles, as
contrasted to the salvation of Israel.
John
Main emphasis on such spiritual fundamentals as Jesus being the Son of God:
a. Probably addressed to both Jewish and Gentile audiences—a general tract.
b. The main purpose was to emphasize that Jesus is the Son of God. (John 20:3031) (Yet, surprisingly, John makes no mention of the virgin birth.)
c. An emphasis upon Jesus’ ministry in Judea as well as in Galilee.
d. Several long discourses, such as the bread of life (chapter 6), the Holy Ghost
(chapters 14, 16), prayer in the Garden (chapter 17).
Some material exclusive to John:
a. The call of four early disciples, wedding at Cana, Nicodemus’s visit to Jesus,
an early clearing of the temple, the woman at the well in Samaria, curing the
nobleman’s son, curing the lame man at the pool. (John 1:35 to 5:24)
b. Discourses on the bread of life, on the light of the world, on the living water,
healing a man born blind, the raising of Lazarus. (John chapters 6-11)
c. The only one to mention the washing of the feet at the Last Supper, discourse
about the Holy Ghost, prayer in the Garden, piercing of Jesus’ side, Thomas
the doubter, promise of John’s tarrying. (John 13 to 21)
d. No true parables, but two allegories: John 10 (the good shepherd) and John
15:1-8 (the vine and the branches).
Some peculiarities of the book of John:
a. Anonymous references to John himself? (John 13:23; 20:1-11; 21:20-24)
b. Emphasis on Philip. (John 1:43-45; 12:21-22; 14:8-9)
c. Emphasis on Thomas. (John 11:16; 20:24-29; 21:2)
d. The testimony of John is notable for what it omits as well as for what it
contains. There is no reference or allusion to Jesus’ forty days in the
wilderness, the parables, calming the storm at sea, the Mount of
Transfiguration, casting out of devils, the Sermon on the Mount.