Worksheet 2

Matthew
Jesus the Teacher

Luke
Jesus the Saviour

Matthew concentrates on the relationship

of Jesus to the Jewish faith.
Source material:
M - material found only in Matthew
and attributed to an unknown unique
source
Q - material shared by Luke and
Matthew and attributed to an unknown
source
Sayings of Jesus in Aramaic
Marks Gospel
Author:
Matthew was a Jewish Christian who
writes his account for his fellow Jewish
Christians.

Luke stresses the blessings of salvation

brought by Jesus.
Source material:
actual events
spoken reports
Marks Gospel
written reports
L - material found only in Luke and
attributed to an unknown unique source
Q - material shared by Luke and
Matthew and attributed to an unknown
source
Author:
Luke was a Gentile who was a companion
of Pauls. He was a doctor and he also
wrote the Acts. He was well educated.

Date written:

Date written:

80s

Reasons for writing:

He wrote for Jewish Christians to
strengthen their faith that Jesus is the
Messiah. He was probably serving a
Christian community in Syria Antioch.
It was originally written in Greek.

Main Characteristics:
1. Fulfilment of the Old Testament
prophecies
2. Special interest in the Jews
3. Concern with the Church
4. A great knowledge of the teachings of
Jesus
5. Emphasis on the miraculous

80s

Reasons for writing:

He wrote for a non-Jewish audience.
He wanted to give an account which would
give authentic knowledge about the
"matters of which you have been
informed.
(Luke 1:1-4)
Of the four Gospel Luke gives the fullest
life-story of Jesus.
Main Characteristics:
1. Universal nature of the Gospel.
2. Outcasts including tax collectors, the
poor, women and Gentiles.
3. Prayer
4. Salvation and forgiveness
5. Praise and joy
6. Holy Spirit
7. History

1999 A Synoptic Gospel. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use.

Worksheet 3

Mark
Jesus the crucified
Christ
Mark emphasises action rather than
teaching.
Source material:
first hand accounts from Peter
written accounts
written sayings and stories of Jesus in
Aramaic
word of mouth sayings of Jesus
Author:
John Mark who was thought to be a cousin
of Barnabas, who was a companion of
Paul.
Date written:
65-70 CE
Reasons for writing:
He wrote it for a suffering Gentile
Christian Community in Rome.
It was a time of Persecution when
Christians were blamed for the great fire in
Rome during the reign of Nero. Both Peter
and Paul were executed. Mark wrote his
Gospel to encourage Christians to cling to
their faith in this time of persecution.
Main Characteristics:
1. Themes of authority and action
2. Eyewitness material
3. Aramaic phrases
4. Poor grammatical style
5. Persecution

In Matthews presentation of the life

and ministry of Jesus he is sensitive
to the Jewish people. For example,
he refers to the Kingdom of
Heaven rather than the Kingdom
of God which would offend the
Jewish people.
Why do you think the term the
Kingdom of God would
offend the Jewish people?

In Matthews Gospel he
mentions the word Church.
Write down what he has to
say.
Read Mt 16:18, Mt 18:17.
Do you think he is referring
to what we see Church as
today?

For whom does Luke show

a special concern?
Make a list.
Luke 7:11-15
Luke 4:18-19
Luke 2:32
Luke 8:26-39
Luke 15:1
Luke 23:32,43

How is Lukes concern for

these groups relevant to our
society?

Mark shows a great concern for those

who are persecuted.
Read Mark 10:30 and Mark 13:9-13
What does Mark have to say?
Who are the persecuted in our
society?
What does Marks message have to
say to us today?

1999 A Synoptic Gospel. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use.

Worksheet 4

John the Baptist

1

Matthew 3:1-6
In those days

Mark 1:1-6

The beginning of the gospel of

Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

came John the Baptist, preaching

in the wilderness of Judea,
2

Repent, for the kingdom of

heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he
who was spoken of by the
prophet Isaiah when he said,

The voice of one crying in the

wilderness: Prepare the way of
the Lord, make his paths
straight.

As it is written in Isaiah the

prophet,
Behold, I send my messenger
before thy face, who shall prepare
thy way;
3
the voice of one crying in the
wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.

Now John wore a garment of

camels hair, and a leather girdle
around his waist; and his food
was locusts and wild honey.
5
Then went out to him Jerusalem
and all Judea and all the region
about the Jordan,
6
and they were baptised by him
in the river Jordan, confessing
their sins.

Luke 3:1-6

In the fifteenth year of the reign

of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judea, and
Herod being tetrarch of Galilee,
and his brother Philip tetrarch of
the region of Ituraea and
Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch
of Abilene, 2 in the
highpriesthood of Annas and
Caiaphas, the word of God came
to John the son of Zechariah in
the wilderness; 3 and he went into
all the region about the Jordan,
preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of
sins.4 As it is written in the book
of the words of Isaiah the
prophet,
The voice of one crying in the
wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight. 5 Every
valley shall be filled, and every
mountain and hill shall be
brought low, and the crooked
shall be made straight, and the
rough ways shall be made
smooth;
6
and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God

John the baptiser appeared in

the wilderness, preaching a
baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins.
5

And there went out to him all

the country of Judea, and all the
people of Jerusalem; and they
were baptised by him in the river
Jordan, confessing their sins.
6
Now John was clothed with
camels hair, and had a leather
girdle around his waist, and ate
locusts and wild honey.

List one common characteristic between the three Gospels.

Find differences between the versions.
Explain the differences in light of each authors background. (refer to Worksheets 2 and 3)
1999 A Synoptic Gospel. This sheet may be photocopied for non-commercial classroom use.