A. THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER
- The Old Testament brings before us the cry and the needs of the hearts of the people.
- The New Testament offers the fulfillment of those needs.
- The Old Testament ends with as yet unfulfilled prophecies.
- The New Testament begins with the four Gospels that show the fulfilling of these prophecies by describing the life and Work of Grace of the Lord Jesus.
- The Old Testament gives the reason for the New Testament.
- The New Testament gives the answers to the Old Testament.
B. FIFTEEN OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES THAT REFER TO THE LORD JESUS AND ARE FULFILLED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
| Gen 3:15 | He would be “the Seed of the woman” | Gal 4:4; Luk 2:7; Rev 12:15 |
| Gen 18:18 | The promised Seed of Abraham | Acts 3:25; Matt 1:1; Luk 3:34 |
| Gen 49:10 | Would come from the tribe of Judah | Luk 3:33; Matt 1:2,3 |
| Mic 5:2 | His birthplace | Matt 2:1; Luk 2:4-7 |
| Isa 7:14 | Born of a virgin | Matt 1:18; Luk 1:26-35 |
| Deut 18:15 | As a prophet | Jn 6:14; Jn 1:45; Acts 3:19-26 |
| Ps 110:4 | As a priest of the order of Melchizedek | Heb 6:20; Heb 5:5,6; 7:15-17 |
| Isa 53:3 | His rejection by the Jews | Jn 1:11; 5:43; Lk 4:29 |
| Zac 11:12 | Sold for 30 pieces of silver | Matt 26:15; Matt 27:3-10 |
| Isa 53:6 | Beaten and spat upon | Mk 14:65; 15:19; Jn 19:1-3 |
| Isa 53:4,5 | Suffered on behalf of others | Matt 8:16,17; Rom 4:25 |
| Ps 69:22 | Given vinegar mixed with gall | Jn 19:29; Matt 27:34,48 |
| Ps 22:19 | Soldiers cast lots for his cloak | Mk 15:24; Jn 19:24 |
| Ps 16:10 | His resurrection | Matt 28:9; Lk 24:50,51 |
| Ps 68:19 | His ascension to heaven | Lk 24:50,51 |
C. THE FIRST THREE GOSPELS are known as the “Synoptic” (general, comprehensive) Gospels.
D. WHY FOUR GOSPELS?
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- This question is often asked. Many Bible students have tried to select out passages from each gospel and put the life and work of Jesus into chronological order from His conception to His ascension, but have failed in the attempt.
- The reasons for this is that God addressed four different groups of people, and the content was arranged so that the Lord Jesus would be pictured in four different ways.
- Let us see how it is done:
| GOSPEL | JESUS AS | GROUP TO WHOM JESUS IS PRESENTED |
EZEK’S PROPH |
| MATTHEW | Messiah-King |
Jews. Continues from the Old Testament that is familiar to the Jews. It traces Jesus’ ancestral lineage back through the Jewish genealogy of Abraham and David. Sixty references to Jewish prophecy. Forty quotes from the Old Testament. |
Lion |
| MARK | Jehovah’s Bond Servant |
Romans/Heathen (Unbelievers). An action Gospel. No genealogies. Very few actual words of Jesus. Jesus portrayed as the powerful, untiring Servant of God and man. Sometimes uses Roman words (Latin) The word “immediately” indicates the fast pace of the Book |
Ox |
| LUKE | Son of Man |
Greek/Heathen (Unbelievers) The genealogy reaches right back to Adam – showing the lineage of mankind. Shows the universal grace of God. Shows Christ’s sympathy for the poor, outcasts and for the least of men. Elevates the position of women. |
Man |
| JOHN | Son of God |
Church people. Focuses on Jesus’ heavenly origin. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” To see an eagle one has to look up heavenwards. The eagle is above everything. It was written when the Church was under tremendous persecution, and there was a need to strength |
Eagle |
(As seen above it is interesting that the four gospels picture the Son of God in a similar way as Ezekiel in the vision that he had. (Ezek:1:10))
E. MORE INTERESTING FACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE GOSPELS
| GOSPEL |
a. AUTHOR b. DATE WRITTEN c. WHERE WRITTEN |
INTERESTING CONTENTS | SCRIPTURE REF. |
| Matthew |
a. Apostle Matthew (Levi) b. AD 60 |
Story of the wise men The temptation of Jesus The sermon on the mount The beatitudes Parable of the sower and the seed Prophecy about the end-times The parable of the talents The Great Commission |
Matt 2:1-12 Matt 4:1-11 Matt 5-7 Matt 5:1-12 Matt 13:3-23 Matt 24-25 Matt 25:14-30 Matt 28:19-20 |
| Mark |
a. John Mark b. AD60 c. Rome |
Healing of Peter’s mother-in-law Jesus walks on the water Jesus cleanses the temple Judas bargains to betray Jesus |
Mark 1:31 Mark 6:45-51 Mark 11:15-19 Mark 14:1-2, 10-11 |
| Luke |
a. Luke (the doctor) b. AD 60-62 c. Rome |
Angels announce Jesus’ birth Jesus’ baptism Jesus’ temptations Feeding of the 5000 Parable of the Good Samaritan Parable of the lost sheep and coin Parable of the lost son The widow’s mite Peter’s three denials of Jesus |
Luk 2:8-14 Luk 3:21-22 Luk 4:1-13 Luk 9:12-17 Luk 10:29-37 Luk 15:3-10 Luk 15:11-32 Luk 21-1-4 Luk 22:54-62 |
| John |
a. Apostle John b. AD 80-90 c. Rome |
JES‘ 7 “I AM” DECLARAT’NS “I am the bread of life.” “I am the light of the world.” “I am the door.” “I am the good shepherd.” “I am the resurrection & the life.” “I am the way, truth and the life.” “I am the vine.” 8 SIGNS OF JES’ DIVINITY Water turned into wine Healing of the nobleman’s son. Healing cripple man at Bethesda. Feeding of 5000. Walking on the water. Restoring sight of a blind man. Raising of Lazarus from the dead. Producing catch of fish for disciples. |
Joh 6:35 Joh 8:12; 9:5 Joh 10:7,9 Joh 10:11,14 Joh 11:25 Joh 14:6 Joh 15:1,5 ……………. Joh 2:1-11 Joh 4:46-54 Joh 5:1-9 Joh 6:1-14 Joh 6:16-21 Joh 9:1-41 Joh 11:1-44 Joh 21:1-14 |
F. OUR STRATEGY IN THE STUDYING OF THE GOSPELS
We will use the Gospel of Luke as a basis because it covers a wider field of Jesus’ words and deeds than any of the three other Gospels.
Attention will however also be given to certain sections of the other Gospels.
Our aim is to offer the student the opportunity to get to know a considerable amount of what is in the Gospels, and to understand and incorporate it into his life.
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