Theology

Johnna Kincaid

Theology 202

Intro to the New Testament

October 1st 2007

The Gospels Matthew and Luke of the New Testament contrast to be surprisingly different. The concepts in each book seem to be the same, however, when you take a closer look you can see many clear differences. First and foremost I will discuss the more important readings of Matthew. Then, I will do the same for the book of Luke. Each book will then be compared and contrasted to discuss what is similar and different. I will go more in specific on the birth of Jesus, the tone of each reading, and how each books preface gives clues to how the rest of the book plays out.

First of all, Matthews' book begins by discussing the Genealogy of Jesus. Matthew 1:1 states " A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of AbrahamÐ'..." The text then goes on to record Jesus' genealogical background. After the genealogy Matthew then goes on to discuss the birth of Jesus, which is very important when comparing Matthew and Luke, which I will confer of later. Matthews' version of the birth story puts Joseph at the core by focusing his response to Mary's pregnancy very important. It says in verse 19 that Joseph was planning on secretly divorcing Mary when he found out she was pregnant. But when Joseph learns of a higher righteousness that had given a Mary this child, he obeyed God and trusted in him. In verse 20 it states that "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said "Joseph, the son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins"." This will later be contrast with Luke's version of the birth of Jesus, which is very important when comparing the two books.

Another thing that I would like to note about in the book of Matthew, apart from the birth narrative is the baptism of Jesus, and what is said about John the Baptist. In Matthew chapter 3 John the Baptist is described as a person of whom people would follow. Also, it described the way he would dress. Chapter 3 verses 4-6 are as follows; "John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan river." I thought that this was very interesting. It seems that people were easily influenced in those days. John the Baptist seemed like someone who was possibly poor and he was just barely surviving. It is ironic that he would dress and eat in a strange way, and yet he had many followers. Also, one more point I would like to make of the book of Matthew is that Jesus seemed a bit stern then in other books.

The Baptism of Jesus is also an important element of the book of Matthew. It speaks of this occurrence more than any of the gospels. In Chapter 3 Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. He then steps out of the water and the sky is opened. A voice is then projected that says "This is my son, whom I love, and I am well pleased." You see this specific saying in other chapters in the New Testament as well as in Matthew.

Luke's book begins with a state of "self-awareness." Luke Chapter 1 verse 1-4 is as follows, "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed in good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." The beginning of this book is important because it is following up upon the gospel of Mark. Also, Theophilus could mean one of two things. First of all it could possibly