Deck 19: The Gospels of Matthew and Luke

Question 1

3. Read the account of Jesus' baptism in Mark and Matthew (Mark 1:9-11; Matt 3:13-17). Discuss the changes Matthew made to Mark and what these changes reveal about Matthew's emphases.

Answer 1

Mark's Gospel began with John's apocalyptic message and Jesus' baptism. The baptism story introduced the reader to Mark's secrecy motif: John apparently did not recognize Jesus as the messiah; after Jesus was baptized in Mark, Jesus saw the heavens open, and the voice that spoke from heaven addressed Jesus, "You are my beloved. . . ." Matthew changed the narrative quite a bit. When Jesus first approached John, John recognized him as the messiah and was hesitant to baptize Jesus because he recognized Jesus' superiority. In Jewish tradition, the spiritually superior person baptized the person who was inferior. Matthew did not want Jesus to appear inferior, so he added John's acknowledgement that it was he who needed to be baptized by Jesus. Another change Matthew made to Mark's narrative was the statement of Jesus' sonship. Rather than addressing only Jesus, in Matthew the voice from heaven spoke those who were present: "This is my son. . . ." These changes point to Matthew's interest in showing Jesus' superiority and that some people recognized and accepted Jesus' messiahship.

Question 2

1. The Gospel of Luke concludes with the Great Commission.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

2. In Matthew, Jesus says it is impossible to follow the Law perfectly.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

3. Both Matthew and Luke contain versions of beatitudes.

Question 5

4. Most scholars believe Matthew and Luke both used Mark as a source.

Question 6

5. Luke largely avoids depicting Jesus as suffering.

Question 7

6. Matthew and Luke put the three temptations of Jesus in the wilderness in a different order.

Question 8

7. The curtain rips before Jesus dies in the Gospel of Luke.

Question 9

8. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus begins his ministry by cleansing the Temple.

Question 10

3) The Gospel of Matthew was probably written ____________ Palestine around ____________ C.E.

A) in; 60-65
B) outside; 60-65
C) in; 90-95
D) outside; 80-85

Question 11

15) Much of the Sermon on the Mount is taken from which one of the following sources?

A) Mark
B) Luke
C) M
D) Q

Question 12

24) In which of the following Gospels are we informed that the author, as well as other Gospel authors, acquired the information from Christians who had told stories about Jesus?

A) Mark
B) Luke
C) Matthew
D) John

Question 13

28) In Luke, Jesus' hometown is

A) Bethlehem.
B) Nazareth.
C) Jerusalem.
D) Caesarea.

Question 14

30) One of the most important cities at the beginning of Luke's Gospel is

A) Jerusalem.
B) Antioch.
C) Caesarea.
D) Rome.

Question 15

32) Luke's genealogy traces back to

A) God.
B) Abraham.
C) David.
D) Moses.

Question 16

33) In Luke, Jesus' public ministry begins with

A) the Sermon on the Mount.
B) miracle working.
C) a sermon in a synagogue.
D) cleansing the Jerusalem Temple.

Question 17

37) In Luke, Jesus' death shows all of the following except

A) he is an innocent prophet who was unjustly killed.
B) God has accepted Jesus' death as an atoning sacrifice for human sin.
C) he is a righteous martyr.
D) his death causes repentance.

Question 18

39) Luke does not believe Jesus will return immediately because

A) Jesus was wrong.
B) the gospel must be spread throughout the world.
C) Jesus is not yet in power.
D) God has rejected all of humanity.