The Synoptic Gospels—What are they?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The word "synoptic" means "together sight." The Synoptic Gospels are called such because the authors "saw together with a common view." These books cover many of the same events in Jesus’ life in almost the same exact order. Just about ninety percent of the content in Mark is also found in Matthew, and about half of Mark also appears in Luke. The Synoptic Gospels encompass all of Jesus’ parables, and the book of John (a Gospel, but not synoptic) does not contain any of Jesus’ parables. Simply defined, the Synoptic Gospels are the first three books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Gospels are an accumulation of the Synoptic Gospels plus the book of John. They describe the good news of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, which are the foundation of Christ's message of salvation.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Synoptic Gospels are not recorded in the Old Testament.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The apostle Matthew, one of the twelve disciples appointed by Jesus (Matthew 10:2–4), wrote the Gospel of Matthew.
• John Mark, a close associate of the apostle Peter (1 Peter 5:13), wrote the Gospel of Mark.
• Luke, the physician and a friend of the apostle Paul (Colossians 4:14), wrote the Gospel of Luke.
• The Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—present a shared narrative of Jesus’ life but emphasize different themes for distinct audiences. Matthew, writing to a Jewish audience, highlights Jesus as the promised Messiah with frequent Old Testament references (e.g., Matthew 1:22–23, fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy).
• Mark, addressing Roman readers, focuses on Jesus’ authority and action-packed ministry (e.g., Mark 1:15, Jesus’ proclamation of the kingdom and urgent call to discipleship).
• Luke, writing for Gentiles, emphasizes Jesus’ compassion and inclusion of marginalized groups, such as the parables of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) and the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). Together, they provide complementary perspectives on the gospel message tailored to their audiences.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Although there are abundant similarities in the Synoptic Gospels, there are also quite a few differences. Mark is the shortest book of the three by a considerable amount. Further, all three books were written for different audiences. Matthew wrote to a Jewish audience, Mark wrote to a Roman audience, and Luke wrote to a Gentile audience. Matthew took a unique approach to his writing by frequently quoting the Old Testament. He is also the only author to extensively use the phrase "the kingdom of heaven," which is not found anywhere else in Scripture. Luke was drawn to Jesus’ compassion and was faithful to record Jesus’ acts of kindness toward Samaritans and Gentiles.

Biblical scholarship often has difficulty defining the similarities and differences within the Synoptic Gospels and dubbed this difficulty the " Synoptic Problem." Overall, scholars can agree that God inspired all three authors to detail the life of Jesus Christ and relay the meaning of His life to three different audiences.

UNDERSTAND

• The Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—share much content but are written for distinct audiences: Jews, Romans, and Gentiles.
• Matthew highlights Jesus as Messiah with Old Testament fulfillment, Mark emphasizes His authority and urgency, and Luke focuses on Jesus’ compassion for outsiders.
• Despite overlaps called the “Synoptic Problem,” all three Gospels are divinely inspired, offering complementary views of Jesus’ life and mission.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that Matthew, Mark, and Luke wrote for different audiences affect the way you read and understand their accounts of Jesus?
• How do you understand the intentional differences between the Synoptic Gospels?
• How can exploring the unique themes in each Synoptic Gospel deepen your faith and your view of Jesus’ mission?

ENGAGE

• For what purposes would God have chosen to reveal Jesus’ life through three similar yet distinct perspectives in the Synoptic Gospels?
• How do the different audiences of Matthew, Mark, and Luke shape the message they emphasize about Jesus?
• How can understanding the “Synoptic Problem” help us appreciate the inspiration and unity behind these three Gospels, despite their differences?