By Mark D. Taylor, NLT Bible Translation Committee
There are four Gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The word gospel, meaning “good news,” is the traditional translation for the Greek term euangelion (pronounced you-ahn-GEL-ee-on, with a hard g in the accented syllable). Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called Synoptic Gospels because they tell much of the story of the life and ministry of Jesus in a similar way. (In this context, synoptic means seeing that two or more documents tell an account from a common viewpoint.)
Some elements of the story of Jesus are told in only two of the Gospels, some are told in all three of the Synoptics, and some are told in all four of the Gospels. But as we read the Gospels, we often find minor differences between the various accounts. For example, let’s look at the story of Jesus’ interaction with the “rich young ruler.”
| Matthew 19:16-22 | Mark 10:17-22 | Luke 18:18-23 |
| 16Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” | 17As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19But to answer your question, you know the commandments: | 18Once a religious leader [other translations call him “a ruler”] asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 19“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. 20But to answer your question, you know the commandments: |
| 17“Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18“Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely.19Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’*” 20“I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” | ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’*” 20“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” | ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’” 21The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” |
| 21Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” | 21Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” | 22When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” |
| 22But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. | 22At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. | 23But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. |
| Footnote: 19:18-19 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20; Lev 19:18. | Footnote: 10:19 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20. | Footnote: 18:20 Exod 20:12-16; Deut 5:16-20. |
As highlighted in the above passages, the description of this man varies across the accounts. Matthew describes him as “someone . . . a young man . . . [who] had many possessions.” Mark describes him as “a man . . . [who] had many possessions.” Luke describes him as “a religious leader [or ruler] . . . [who] was very rich.”
When we look at the three Synoptic Gospels together, we see that he can be called a “rich young ruler.” This descriptor is an example of a harmonization of the Gospel accounts.
Notice also how Jesus responds to the man’s question in the three accounts. Matthew tells us that Jesus quoted five of the commandments from Exodus and Deuteronomy, along with an additional command from Leviticus (“Love your neighbor as yourself”).
Mark likewise tells us that Jesus quoted five of the commandments from Exodus and Deuteronomy. But Mark’s account also includes “You must not cheat anyone,” which is not a direct quotation of a command (though this idea is alluded to in the Old Testament), and no mention is made of the command from Leviticus.
Luke also tells us that Jesus quoted from these five commandments from Exodus and Deuteronomy, but with a slightly different ordering, and he does not include the command about cheating or the command from Leviticus.
Does this suggest that there are errors in one or more of these passages from the Gospels? No, they simply tell the story with slightly different details. When we combine those details, we get a more complete picture than we get from any one of the Gospel writers. And this is the case in many stories throughout the Gospels. Study Bibles (including the NLT Study Bible and the Life Application Study Bible) often indicate where parallel passages occur, so readers can easily find and read the different accounts.
There are benefits to reading parallel passages in relation to each other, and there are benefits to reading through the Gospels on their own. Regardless, may we regularly read the stories and words of Jesus and allow them to transform us.