When we read through the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John–separately, it is impossible to receive all of the information about the events that are being described. Each individual writer is recording the things that he remembered, while other writers record additional details that were not included in the other accounts. By reading each gospel separately, we miss important details that have taken place.
If we read the four Gospels together at once, we see these little details from each writer, all at one time; and this allows us to understand the story of Jesus in greater detail. An example of how important it is to read all four gospels together at once, is observed by the following example.
During the betrayal and arrest of Jesus, we see that Matthew and Mark tell us that someone who was with Jesus, took out a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Luke adds that it was his right ear, telling us that the one who did this, was likely left-handed. John adds the final detail, that the person who did this was Peter, and the servant’s name was “Malchus.”
We would not know the entire story that took place, unless we were able to read all four gospels at the same time.
Chapter 232: “The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus”
Matthew 26:47-56 Mark 14:43-52 Luke 22:47-53 John 18:1-12
- Matthew 26:47-56
…51 And, behold, one of them who were with Jesus, stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and took-off his ear.
- Mark 14:43-52
And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
- Luke 22:47-53
49 When the men who were around him saw what would follow, they said to Jesus, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear….
- John 18:10
Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and stuck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.
This book takes the four gospels and places them before you as a single story, so that you can see all that was written about the events that happened during Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Much of this commentary is designed to be of great encouragement to the reader, such as chapter 227:
“In our life, there will be many times when we will not really understand the plans of God at a particular moment. As we experience loss, hurt, abandonment, betrayal, sickness, financial stress, or terrible conflicts in our relationships, we will ask: “How is this your plan for me, Lord?”
Often we may question whether God really loves us when He allows so much pain and suffering to flood our life.
When these moments arrive, as they must for every person, we should think on Jesus and remind ourselves how much He suffered for us. We should look back to the cross; that moment when Jesus demonstrated, in real, practical terms; how far the love of God will go in meeting our needs. The fact that Jesus was willing to leave heaven, live as a man, allow evil men to put Him to death–all to make our redemption possible; should remind us that God does love us. On that final day of Jesus’ life, He gave all that He had; His very life, to demonstrate once and for all, that God really does love us.”
The commentary that is included in this book, is unlike those of other publications. The intent of this author is to enable the reader to know who Jesus is and how the things that He said and did, are personally applicable to our lives today.
For the person who is interested in commentary that is in-depth and filled with relevant facts, the 1,200 pages of this commentary in this 3,156 page book are extensive, thorough, and scholarly.
Finally, this book is also written for the person who is interested in the prophetic applications of Jesus appearance here on earth. This book shows how the entire Bible was written with the intent of revealing Jesus as the Messiah, in fulfillment of all that the Hebrew prophets wrote.
1 Luke 22, John 18
2 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34
3 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:29