Intermediate Information about the Four New Testament Gospels (Lesson 1)

1. Intermediate Information about the Four New Testament Gospels (Lesson 1) • Which NT Gospel contains the Sermon on the Mount? (Matthew; Mark; Luke; or John) • Click for the next slide and the answer.

2. Which NT Gospel contains the Sermon on the Mount? (Matthew; Mark; Luke; or John) Answer: • Matthew, chapters 5-7, which begins: 5:1: Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2: and he began to teach them saying:(continue clicking for excerpts from the Sermon on the Mount) • 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. • 5:5: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

3. Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount continued (1) • 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. • 5:21: You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22: But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; • 5:27: You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28: But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

4. Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount continued (2) • 5:38: You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39: But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; • 6:3: But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4: so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. • 7:28: When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29: because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

5. Which NT Gospel contains the Sermon on the Plain? (Matthew; Mark; Luke; or John) Answer: • Luke 6:20-49, which begins: 20: Looking at his disciples, he said:  “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21: Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. (continue clicking for excerpts from Luke’s Sermon on the Plain) • 27: But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28: bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. • 35: But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

6. Luke’s Sermon on the Plain continued • 37: Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38: give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. • 43: No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44: Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. • 45: The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.

7. Which NT Gospel contains at its center Jesus’ question to the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew; Mark; Luke; or John) Answer: • Mark 8:27-33, which begins: 27: Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”(continue clicking for excerpts from the “Who do you say” text) • 28: They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29: “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” • 30: Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. 31: He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

8. Matthew’s version of the “Who do you say” text adds an additional famous discussion. Read it below. • Matthew 16:15-20 says: 15: He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (continue clicking for excerpts from the “Who do you say” text) • 17: And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. • 18: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

9. Matthew’s version of the “Who do you say” text continued • 19: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” • 20: Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. • 21: From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

10. Which two NT Gospels contain versions of the Lord's Prayer? (Matthew; Mark; Luke; John) Answer: • Matthew 6:9-13, which is in the Sermon on the Mount and begins: 6: But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you…9: Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.(click for the other Gospel containing the Lord’s Prayer) • Luke 11:2-4, which begins: He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2: He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. • Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is longer than Luke’s. Click for the next slides and information about the differences.

11. Matthew’s version of the Lord's Prayer contains eight statements. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.Click on the next slide and see the shorter version in Luke.

12. Luke’s version of the Lord's Prayer contains six statements. Father, (omitting “Our” and “in heaven”) hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, (omitting “your will be done…”) Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation (omitting “deliver us from the evil one”). Click on the next slides and see a summary.

13. Great Work! In this lesson we have learned: Matthew, chapters 5-7 contains the Sermon on the Mount. Luke 6:20-49 contains the Sermon on the Plain, which is a shorter version of the Sermon on the Mount that does not have, “You have heard that it was said,… but I say to you,” and many other things. Mark 8:27-33, at the center of Mark’s Gospel, contains Jesus’ question to the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” and Peter’s response that he is the Messiah.

14. Summary continued Matthew 16:15-20 adds a response to the “Who do you say I am?” text, telling Peter he is the rock on which he will build his church and giving him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4 both contain the Lord’s Prayer. Luke’s is shorter, not containing “Our” [father], “in heaven,” “your will be done…,” and “deliver us from the evil one.” You are now ready to continue with Lesson 2 of the Intermediate Lessons on the four New Testament Gospels. Best wishes as you do it!