Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are not just inspirational stories about Jesus being kind and powerful. They are carefully shaped accounts meant to convince you of something specific: who Jesus is, why He matters, and why you should trust Him.
The Gospels are similar to ancient biographies, but they’re also unique. They record a person’s words and actions, highlight His character, defend what He taught, and tell true events for theological reasons, not just historical reasons.
In other words, they tell you what happened and why it matters for faith.
What kind of books are the Gospels?
The Gospels are not novels, and they’re not modern journalistic biographies. They’re closer to ancient biography with a theological purpose.
According to classic biblical study guidelines, Gospels typically:
- Record the sayings and actions of a key person (Jesus).
- Focus on the person’s moral character.
- Present that character as steady and true — not changing like fictional characters who “develop” over time.
- Defend and explain that person’s message; in other words, they are written to persuade.
- Tell history in a way that also teaches theology. The writers care about real events, but they also want you to grasp the meaning of those events.
That last line is huge: the Gospels are historical theology. They tell you what Jesus said and did, and they also tell you what those words and actions mean in God’s plan.
So when you study a Gospel passage, you’re not only asking, “What happened?” You’re also asking, “What is this revealing about Jesus?”
2. Why we have more than one Gospel
Sometimes people ask, “Why are there four Gospels? Why not just one?”
Short answer: because different writers, using eyewitness material, wrote to different audiences and highlighted different things about Jesus.
Luke explains his process openly at the start of his Gospel (Luke 1:1–4). He says:
- Many people had already tried to compile accounts of what happened.
- Those accounts were based on eyewitnesses.
- Luke himself “followed all things closely” and wrote an orderly account.
- His goal was that his reader (Theophilus) would have certainty about what he had been taught. Wednesday in the Word
Church tradition also connects Mark’s Gospel to Peter’s eyewitness preaching, Matthew’s Gospel to the apostle Matthew himself, and Luke’s Gospel to careful investigation and arrangement. Wednesday in the Word
This explains both the overlap and the differences.
How the synoptic gospels come about
Matthew, Mark, and Luke are often called the “synoptic” Gospels. “Synoptic” comes from a Greek word meaning “seen together,” because they often tell many of the same events from similar angles.
Here’s how much they share:
- Total Verses: Matthew = 1069; Mark = 662; Luke = 1150
- 97% of Mark’s words have a parallel in Matthew.
- 88% of Mark’s words have a parallel in Luke.
- 24% of Matthew is shared with Luke and not Mark.
- 21% of Luke is shared with Matthew and not Mark.
- 4.5% of Mark is unique to Mark.
- 26% of Matthew is unique to Matthew.
- 43% of Luke is unique to Luke.
Why those differences? Each writer shaped material to speak clearly to a particular audience and to highlight what that audience most needed to understand about Jesus.
John’s Gospel is even more distinct. John includes long conversations, theological reflection, and signs chosen to help you “believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,” and that by believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31). That’s another way of saying: each Gospel is preaching, not just reporting.
- The intent was to compile a narrative of the events based on what the eyewitnesses reports.
- Luke himself investigated these sources and put together an orderly account.
- Mark’s account is derived largely from the Apostle Peter.
- Matthew was an eye witness to the events.
Guidelines for interpreting gospels
(adapted from How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth, by Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, chapter 7)
1. Learn the historical world of Jesus
Before you jump into application, get some basic background:
- What did first-century Jewish life look like under Roman rule?
- What did people believe about the Messiah?
- How did religious leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes) function?
- How did purity laws and social shame work?
Why this matters: A lot of Gospel conflict makes instant sense in that world. For example, touching a leper wasn’t just “gross,” it made you ceremonially unclean. Eating with “sinners” wasn’t just inpolite, it was scandalous. If you don’t understand that world, you’ll miss why people gasp in these stories.
How to do it: A short Bible dictionary entry or a trustworthy study note on the setting can go a long way. You don’t need seminary. You just need enough context to feel the tension.
2. Pay attention to the literary form
Jesus doesn’t only teach in one style. He uses:
- Direct teaching (command, instruction)
- Parables
- Word pictures and metaphors
- Sharp questions
- Irony and sarcasm
- Hyperbole (purposeful exaggeration)
- Short sayings
- Poetry-like rhythm
You interpret each form the right way.
For example, if Jesus says, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off,” He’s using shocking exaggeration to communicate seriousness, not giving you a literal self-harm command. That’s called hyperbole.
So when you study a passage, first identify the form:
- Is this a parable?
- Is this a confrontation?
- Is this a miracle report?
- Is this a teaching block?
Knowing the form keeps you from reading poetry like law or reading hyperbole like a checklist.
3. Zoom in on the specific situation in the scene
Many Gospel moments are tied to a real, immediate situation:
- A blind man calls out.
- A synagogue ruler begs for his daughter.
- Pharisees challenge Jesus over Sabbath behavior.
- Crowds press in because of a recent miracle.
Ask:
- What exact problem is happening right now?
- Who is talking to Jesus?
- Why is this moment urgent?
Don’t lift a sentence out of that situation and float it into your life without first understanding what it meant there.
4. Read in scenes, not isolated verses
In the Gospels, a “unit” is often a whole scene, not a single verse. You want to read the full exchange:
question → answer → reaction.
So instead of grabbing one striking line, read the whole paragraph (or story beat) as a single unit.
Ask:
- How does this moment start?
- What happens?
- How does it end?
- What changed by the end of the scene?
That full movement is usually the point the writer wants you to see.
This is especially important in conversations and confrontations, where you only understand Jesus’ words if you also hear the challenge He’s answering.
5. Interpret each passage in light of the whole Gospel
Don’t treat one moment as if it’s the only thing the writer ever said about Jesus.
Matthew has themes. Luke has themes. John has themes. The same event might appear in more than one Gospel, but each writer places it in a slightly different spot and frames it with slightly different details on purpose to highlight something for that audience.
So ask:
- How does this passage connect to what this same Gospel has already said about Jesus?
- Does this story repeat a theme (authority, compassion, fulfillment of Scripture, conflict with leaders, care for outsiders)?
- Does this moment raise an issue the Gospel will answer more fully later?
You’re letting the author preach, not cutting up their sermon.
6. Notice what is distinctive about this particular Gospel
Each Gospel writer emphasizes different angles of Jesus:
- Matthew leans hard into fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and Jesus as the promised Messiah/King.
- Mark moves fast and highlights the character of Jesus as a servant.
- Luke highlights the humanity of Jesus and his wisdom as a man, since he was writing to a Greek audience.
- John gives long theological conversations that reveal Jesus’ identity very directly.
The point: The writer is not just dumping stories. He’s making a case. Learn his voice.
7. Remember: the Gospels are whole books, not clip reels
We tend to treat the Gospels like a set of favorite scenes (“the healing one,” “the storm one,” “the feeding one”). But each Gospel is a carefully arranged, coherent document.
That means:
- Order matters.
- Repetition matters.
- Build-up matters.
Ask:
- Why did the writer place this story right after that one?
- Does this increase the conflict between Jesus and the leaders?
- Are we getting closer to the cross? (Spoiler: yes. Everything bends toward the cross and resurrection.)
You will understand the scene better if you notice where it sits in the larger flow.
8. Read Jesus’ commands as the shape of new life, not the entrance fee
The Gospels include strong commands from Jesus: forgive, repent, deny yourself, love your enemies, take up your cross, etc.
It’s easy to hear those as “Do this or you’re out.” But Fee & Stuart warn against turning those imperatives into the entrance requirement for salvation. Instead, hear them as the description of the new life that flows from God’s grace.
In plain language:
Jesus doesn’t say, “Clean yourself up, and maybe I’ll accept you.”
He says, “Follow Me. I forgive you. Now this is what life with Me looks like.”
That order matters for the Gospel.
9. Let miracle stories tell you who Jesus is, not how to “get your miracle”
Miracle stories are not mainly about “how to get healed.” They reveal the identity and authority of Jesus.
When Jesus calms a storm, the question the disciples ask is not “How can we calm storms?” It’s “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!” (see Mark 4:41). The miracle is a window into who Jesus actually is.
So instead of asking first, “How can I get that result?”, ask, “What does this miracle show me about Jesus’ authority, compassion, power, timing, and mission?”
10. Think “kingdom of God”
Jesus talks constantly about “the kingdom of God” (or “kingdom of heaven” in Matthew). This is not mainly about a place you go when you die. It’s about God’s reign breaking into the present world through Jesus.
When you study a Gospel story, ask:
- What does this show about God’s rule coming into real life?
- Who is being brought under that rule — the proud? the desperate? the outsiders?
- How is Jesus redefining what people thought God’s kingdom would look like? (Politically? Socially? Spiritually?)
If you watch for “kingdom,” you’ll see that Jesus is not offering self-help. He’s announcing a new reality and inviting people to enter it.
A simple method you can use with any Gospel passage
Here’s a practical worksheet you can reuse every time you study a Gospel story:
- Set the scene. Where are we? Who’s here? What’s the tension?
- Listen to expectations. What do people want Jesus to do?
- Watch what Jesus actually does. How does He respond? Does He do something no one expected?
- Spot the conflict. Who is upset or confused, and why? (Conflict is a spotlight: slow down where people argue with Jesus.)
- Ask: What does this reveal about Jesus? His identity? His authority? His compassion? His mission?
- Ask: How should I respond? If this is who Jesus really is, what needs to change in my thinking, my trust, my loyalty, my behavior?
You’ll notice we’re not rushing to “What does this mean for my week?” We’re moving first through: “Who is Jesus?” That’s the center of Gospel study.
Bringing it all together
Let’s summarize:
- The Gospels are historical theology: true events told to reveal the truth about Jesus
- They were written using eyewitness testimony, shaped for real audiences, so that we would have confidence about what we’ve been taught.
- Matthew, Mark, and Luke overlap because they are “seeing together,” but each has a purpose and voice; John adds yet another angle so you will believe.
- To study a Gospel story well, you need to pay attention to setting, conflict, form, and placement, and then ask: “What is this showing me about Jesus and His kingdom?”
More: Basics of Bible Interpretation, by Bob Smith a classic! great for the beginner. Available FREE online, though I believe you can still buy a paper copy.
More: Understanding Genre
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