Again with the Harmonies


Section	Text	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
72	Matthew 14:13-21 Mark 6:30-44 Luke 9:10-17 John 6:1-13	13 When Jesus heard what had happened,	30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.	10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. T
			31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat,
			he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
		he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.	32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.	Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,	6:1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),
		Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.	33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.	11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him.	2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.
					3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.
					4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
		14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.	34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.	He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.	5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him,
		15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food."	35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."	12 Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here."
		16 Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."	37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him,	13 He replied, "You give them something to eat."
					he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
					6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
			"That would take eight months of a man's wages ! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"		7 Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
			38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see."
		17 "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.	When they found out, they said, "Five--and two fish."	They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish--unless we go and buy food for all this crowd."	8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
		18 "Bring them here to me," he said.
		19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass.	39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.		10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down."
				14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples,
			40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.	"Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."
				15 The disciples did so, and everybody sat down.	There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them.
		Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.	41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. .	16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. .	11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.
		Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.	Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people.	Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.
			He also divided the two fish among them all.		He did the same with the fish.
		20 They all ate and were satisfied,	42 They all ate and were satisfied,	17 They all ate and were satisfied,	12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."
		and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.	43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.	and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over	13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
		21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.	44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand
Back to the Top		1) This is one of the few vantage points that all the Gospels have an account of, and the last one before the Passion material begins. There is a complete unity in this text as to the way Jesus handles things and the way that he demonstrates his compassion on the crowd. 2)Historically, this is THE Sunday School lesson. It is the one that everyone knows, but has so much more that is so often overlooked, such as the truth in the size of the loaves and the Wages issue. There is a strong symbolic story that emerges through an examination of this story as well. 3)Matthew and Mark seem to pick up on a fairly heavy compassion feeling here. It seems right for both of them, but Matthew in particular seems to show a dramatic difference between Herod and Jesus. Luke is still in recorder mode. He is detailing a story that is for everyone and even seems to shed some light on the apostles' position there. THEY WERE WORKING. John has a thing about demonstrating Jesus' power. Not only do we see the feeding of 5,000, but we also catch a glimpse into his ability to see men's souls. I imagine that would have been good for someone that is proving Jesus to be none other than God to have as a proof.
Section	Text	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
73-75	Matthew 14:22-36 Mark 6:45-56 John 6:14-21				14 After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."
					15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force,
		22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.	45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
		23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,	46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.		withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
					16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum.
					By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.
		24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.	48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. .
					18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
					19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles,
		25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.	About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake.		.
			He was about to pass by them,
		26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.	49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.		they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.
		27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."	Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."		20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."
		28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
		29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
		30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
		31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
		32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.	51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.		21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat,
			They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
		33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
					and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading
		34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.	53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.
		35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him	54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
			56 And wherever he went--into villages, towns or countryside--they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They
		36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.	begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed
Back to the Top		1) Matthew emphasis could be viewed as one that takes in Jesus' compassion toward all even after a difficult time of his own. Mark's emphasis seems to be driven more at the God"ness" of Jesus. While John is still defining Jesus' power and authority, while also putting a bit of peace on the end of his story. 2) Historically we have the location and boats, but more importantly we have a time reference to the story. The Passover Festival would have been really close to the full moon and it can help throw some light onto the subject of the Mountain and the storm. 3) Each Gospel is unique in that it shows a different person in Jesus. Matthew is delving into his compassion to show to his audience. Mark is demonstrating his God"ness" by control of the elements to a crowd that would understand that, and John is remembering Jesus as a King of All. John puts him in the quiet and in the Storm, but peace is assured by His (Jesus') Power.
Section	Text	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
77	Matthew 15:1-20 Mark 7:1-23 John 7:1				7:1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.
		15:1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem	7:1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and
			2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed.
			3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.
			4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)
		and asked, 2 "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!"	5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?"
		3 Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?	8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."
			9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
		4 For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,'	10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' 11 But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God),
		6 he is not to 'honor his father ' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.	12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. 13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." 1
		7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"	6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'
		10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen and understand. 11 What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'"	4 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'" 16
		12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?"
		13 He replied, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.
		14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."
			17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house
		15 Peter said, "Explain the parable to us."	, his disciples asked him about this parable. "
		16 "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them.	18 "Are you so dull?" he asked.
		17 "Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body?	"Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19 For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body."
			(In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")
		18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.'	20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.'
		19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.	21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.
		20 These are what make a man 'unclean';	23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'
		but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'"
Back to the Top		1) Matthew and Mark have different, but congruous passages. They both show the Jewish leaders in a bad light, but Mark seems to point out more the way that they looked at cleanliness versus the way Jesus did. Matthew seems to paint them in the villain hat and leave them there the whole time. While he also shows the differences between the leaders and Jesus he tends to more fully develop that the leaders were very much against Jesus. 2)This story is particularly striking from a historical perspective, as this is the first time the Jews had been told that it is OK to eat "unclean" foods. Jesus makes this much more an issue of the heart than of the gut. 3)Matthew is writing specifically against the leaders and stating things that Jews reading his Gospel might never had heard. Mark is busy explaining why it is such a big deal and showing the mercy of God by accepting the "unclean".

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