Synopsis of the Gospels
Matthew
The Biblical New Testament’s book of Matthew is the first of the four Gospels and it gives a detailed account of the life of Jesus and his ministry. The work is attributable to Apostle Matthew who chose to write and communicate to followers of Christ. As a scholar who understood more about Jewish tradition and practices, Matthew relied on the teachings of different leaders who are featured prominently in the Old Testament. In this Gospel, the author introduces Jesus as the Messiah who God has anointed in the family lineage of King David (Matthew 1-5). His ultimate goal on earth would be to bring peace and eventually help in the establishment of God’s kingdom.
The first few chapters of this Gospel identify Jesus as God’s favorite son whose conception was attributed to the Holy Spirit. She was born by Mary to live among human beings and show them the right way to salvation. The author goes further to identify Jesus as the anointed king in the lineage of King David (Dunn, 2020). Through the use of parables, readers of this book appreciate that those who follow Jesus’ teachings would have better chances of following God’s commandments and eventually becoming part of his eternal Kingdom.
The book indicates that Jesus is the one God has selected to bless all racial groups across the globe. Through the power of ministry, death, and subsequent resurrection, believers observe that Jesus succeeded in leading a righteous life. Consequently, he would be appreciated as the Messiah who would come back to take the righteous. The writer encourages more Christian to follow the presented messages if they want to remain on God’s right hand side. Followers of Christ, according to this Gospel, need to remain committed and consider how they can make more disciples and followers of Jesus (Matthew 4-9). By digging deeper into the book, it becomes quite clear that Jesus is the major hero through which God’s would deliver His message and establish the promised kingdom.
Mark
The second Gospel in the New Testament is the book of Mark. In this biblical text, the reader realizes that Mark, its author, wanted to inform the gentiles about the message of Christ. In the first chapter, the writer seeks to describe Jesus’ ministry and activities in Galilee. In his works, Jesus was keen to guide more followers to embrace God’s commandments and rely on them to overcome the dangers of evil (Mark 6-8). Through commitment and dedication, the author believes that the targeted people could learn more about Jesus’ efforts and rely on them to transform their spiritual lives.
He goes further to offer a detailed analysis of Jesus’ journey and ministerial work while in Jerusalem. This is followed by the kind of messages and activities he performs in an effort to spread God’s messages. In such writings, Mark is keen to explain how Jesus focused on determination, strength, and resilient in an effort to deal with evil (Dunn, 2020). He was keen to oppose the ideas and power associated with Rome as an earthly establishment. Mark stresses how Jesus was keen to encourage more people to remain passionate and consider the best ways to become part of God’s eternal kingdom.
In the work by Mark, it becomes quite clear that the ultimate aim is not to present or characterized Jesus as the God’s Messiah. Instead, this Gospel identifies him as the Son of Man (Mark 8: 27-30). He goes further to identify him as the Christ in accordance with the views and testimonies by St. Peter. The representation of Jesus’ life and death appear to encourage readers to focus on God’s message and consider the best ways to become part of His kingdom. The important thing is to do what is right, avoid earthly influence, and consider the best approaches to deal with the problematic issue of evil. Those who follow this kind of message will have increased chances of leading righteous lives.
Luke
The third Gospel in the New Testament, Luke, is attributed to a physician by the name St. Luke. In the book, the author begins by examining the genealogy of Jesus as someone who belongs to the lineage of Abraham. In the work, the author focuses on the writings of his predecessors and offers additional insights to shed more light about the life and times of Jesus. For example, the work describes Jesus’ birth and childhood (Luke 2-4). The writer describes the role of the shepherds who came to adore him. The writer goes further to analyze Jesus’ circumcision and places the practice within the context of the promoted Jewish culture.
As a child of God, Jesus’ parents are observed to remain committed and willing to guide and encourage him to be part of God’s house. He is seen at the God’s temple having a chat with different religious and legal professionals. In most parts of the book, the reader is introduced to most of the teachings and parables associated with Jesus. Some of the notable ones include the one on the prodigal son and the Good Samaritan. Through these stories, the intended reader is able to acquire numerous values that could b instrumental towards supporting the establishment of a strong Christian faith (Luke 1-7). These lessons would continue to influence followers of Christ for thousands of years to come.
While examining the personal attributes and life of Jesus, the book of Luke tries to link this historical relevance with the wider message of God. For example, the intended audience eventually comes to realize that God’s purpose is to guide people to become righteous and consider the best ways to become part of His eternal kingdom. From this Gospel, it is agreeable that most of the activities associated with Jesus are described in such a way that they could become the wider mission or goal of the Christian church. Individuals would need to follow the life of Jesus as someone who belongs to the lineage of Abraham (Dunn, 2020). By analyzing the death of Jesus, followers are able to learn more about the event and how it becomes the instrument for delivering redemption and hope to believers. Those who rely on such teachings will be aware of what to do as the focus on the second coming of the Messiah.
John
The last Gospel in the Bible’s New Testament is the book of John. In the work, the author narrates the life and ministerial work of Jesus while on earth. The intended reader acknowledges that Jesus is the only God’s son. In his life, Jesus remains committed to spread God’s word and encourage more people in the world to focus on what was acceptable and righteous (John 7-9). He achieved the intended objective by presenting several messages, parables, and performing miracles to the targeted followers. Followers who consider such attributes will be on the right path towards strengthening their beliefs.
The notable aspect in this book is that its author does not follower a unique sequence to portray the life, achievements, and ministry of Jesus. However, the reader is able to observe how the work offers numerous analyzes of the prayers, discourses, activities, and conservations associated with Jesus. By presenting Jesus as the Son of God, the intended believer is able to appreciate that any attempt to consider and follow his lessons could result in salvation (John 4-8). By living among men, Jesus is able to encourage individuals to consider what is acceptable and be ready following the outlined commandments.
As the Messiah, Jesus dies on the cross as a testimony that God has decided to secure eternal life for all who are willing to believe and follow His commandments. Those who are keen to follow the works of Christ would become God’s disciplines and eventually be anointed to become part of the eternal kingdom. This message appears to be summarized when John describes Jesus as “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). By following Jesus’ deeds, including the raising of Lazarus from the dead and the production of wine from water, more people could find a strong reason to become true followers of God (John 2-12). It is, therefore, evident that those who embrace this message of hope will be able to find the truth, overcome fear, and get rid of death if they succeed to become part of God’s holy kingdom.
Snodgrass’s Book on the Parables
During his time on Earth, Jesus performed numerous miracles and shared parables with the intended followers and audience. Analysts, preachers, and scholars have examined these messages from different perspectives in an attempt to interpret and get the intended meaning. In the book, Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus, Klyine R. Snodgrass offers a detailed analysis of these stories and their significant to modern-day followers of Christ. Relying on a purely evangelical strategy, Snodgrass examines the emerging opinions about Jesus’ parables and how Christians can interpret them to achieve their spiritual goals.
The selected book is worth reading since it begins by describing the importance of the parables and how the targeted people can find meaning in them. To achieve such an aim, believers are introduced to several sections that are intended to outline the major characteristics of Jesus’ parables. Specifically, the reader should be aware that all parables are brief in content, remain simple, and focus on believers. They present fiction intended to engage the reader while present reversal elements (Snodgrass, 2008). They are characterized by unique context which is intended to support Jesus’ ministerial work. They are theo-centric in nature and appear to link content from the Old Testament. To gain a deeper understanding of most of the parables, the author encourages people to study them collectively and consider the existing information from other passages of the Bible.
To make the book more informative and engaging, the selected book provides a detailed approach for guiding more people to read and interpret most of the parables. Specifically, individuals should be keen to read and listen to the intended parable without having a presupposition or viewpoint. The approach of listening to the message from a Palestinian or Jewish viewpoint is essential (Dunn, 2020). The reader should then determine the function of the intended story within the wider context of Jesus’ teachings. The next step is to interpret the message based on what is presented in the narration. The investigator should be keen to avoid imposing real time on it (Snodgrass, 2008). The reader should consider whereby the parable’s message appears to intersect with Jesus’ teachings in other areas. This approach will make it possible for the reader to come up with the theological purpose and significance of the selected parable.
The first parable evident in the book is that of Lazarus and the rich man. The author identifies it as a story with two stages: human characters before death and after death (Snodgrass, 2008). The rich man sees himself as someone who has remained blessed but eventually finds himself tormented upon death. Lazarus, on the other hand, becomes exalted and joins Abraham’s side. The emerging message is that the rich should be keen to remain responsible and ready to support the poor or the less fortunate in life. The second parable is that of the prodigal son whereby the author examines the cultural and biblical messages associated with it. The reader is able to examine the issues existing in the selected society and how the procedures of inheritance were pursued. The reader observes how God maintains His endless love for all people, including those who remain unfaithful. The unconditional of love becomes the learning point whereby the son’s father accepts him irrespective of his past greed.
The third parable notable in the studied text is that of the Good Samaritan. By considering the existing relationships between the communities described in the story, the reader is able to observe how an outsider chooses to help even when the others have not. The reader finds it easier to borrow the message of love and consider the moral lessons of sympathy and empathy. These become powerful guiding principles that are integrated in the wider religious worldview or Christian faith. The fourth parable is the one on the faithful servant. In this story, the reader who applied the methodology Snodgrass (2008) proposes will acknowledge that Jesus requires the privileged to have a sense of responsibility. Those who are required to complete numerous tasks would be expected to remain accountable for their goals. Individuals who embrace such a message will have higher chances of becoming rewarded and eventually getting into God’s eternal kingdom.
The fifth parable evident from the work by Snodgrass is that of two house builders. In this engaging story, the reader is introduced to the first builder who decides to remain foolish by building his house on loose sand. This individual could be representative of people who fail to listen to God’s messages and chose to pursue their own goals. The second individual represents a wide person who chooses solid rock as the foundation for his house (Snodgrass, 2008). In the time of storm, the house on sand would be crushed or washed away while the other one will withstand. The parable portrays Jesus’ message of hope whereby Christians are required to establish their faith on their God if they are to see salvation.
Through the power of these parables, Christians can reconstruct the life of Jesus and the connected ministerial work. The approach can make it easier for believers to interpret and place the messages within their proper context (Snodgrass, 2008). This strategy would help believers consult such parables whenever they encounter difficulties, apply the intended interpretation, and eventually expand their religious belief or foundation. The book is worth reading and recommendable to those who want to become true followers of Christ who act in accordance with God’s requirements.
Luke 21: 5-33: Summary and Analysis
The interpretation of scripture remains a fundamental field that participants or scholars need to take seriously. Poor analysis or wrong understanding of specific religious materials could result in false knowledge that might affect the manner in which followers apply the presented content. Stein recommends an apologist approach to interpretation since it helps reduce bias, supports corroboration of different passages, and strengthens the presentation of the actual message from the scriptures (Stein, 2011, 58). This approach is applicable to these verses: Luke 21: 5-33.
In the book of Luke, Chapter 21, the Christian reader is presented to the message of Christ as he reflects on how God intends to destroy the temple despite being magnificent and “adorned with beautiful stones and stones” (Luke 21: 5-6). The emerging message is that the process of getting rid of this beautiful temple testifies the impermanence and position of all human efforts. Believers are encouraged to avoid putting their attention on the things they see (21:6) and consider the importance of God’s kingdom. In Luke 21:7, the reader observed how Christ tries to connect the magnificent temple with the presence of false prophets and teachers, calamities, and wars that might affect their lives (Luke 21: 7-12).
By following Stein’s approach to literary interpretation, it becomes necessary to read Luke 21: 7-12 by combining the message with the information gained in other apocalyptic books, such as Daniel11, 25, and 40. By examining the message from such an approach, it becomes possible to employ an interpretive strategy to receive the intended meaning. Through the power of imagery, the reader appears to be encouraged to put his or her trust in the Lord while at the same time remaining faithful. Even though Luke 21:9 describes threatening events, the Christian follower is encouraged to remain firm and avoid any form of fear. This reasoning could explain why Luke 21:9 reads: “we should not be terrified”. The reader is guided to acknowledge the fact that God will remain ready and present in the lives of all believers.
The nature of the calamities ad difficult times in the world are described further in Luke 21: 12-18. Specifically, the author explains how followers should be prepared for numerous obstacles in their lives, such as betrayals by friends, hatred, execution, prosecution, and even arrest. The portrayal of Jesus in the book tries to present a sense of prophesy since Jesus encountered numerous challenges on Earth, including his death. Through the life of Jesus, believers appear to be encouraged to remain committed while understanding that hostility is a challenge that might find it hard to deal with. The author tries to describe several Christian leaders who encountered numerous challenges and obstacles while trying to pass across the message of God (Luke 21: 12-19).
While these problems might be inevitable, the specific chapter discourages Christians from blaming those in power, wrongdoers, or their enemies for any form of negative treatment or abuse. Instead, they need to stay focused and appreciate that challenges are powerful “opportunities for them to testify” (Luke 21:13). People need to rely on the testimony of Jesus and use it to pursue higher wisdom and power. They should consider how they can find new strength from the teachings of Jesus (Luke 21:15). By remaining steadfast and being keen to focus on the best outcomes, Jesus promises his followers that they will never lose even a single strand of hair (21:18).
While persecution might be unavoidable in the human society, Christians appear to receive a new form of assurance that victory is possible. In Luke 21:19, the reader observes that true believers will not see death because of the possible challenges. Instead, their souls would become free and eventually win. However, the important practice that all believers need to take seriously is that of putting their trust in their creator. They should put God first and make Him their source of power whenever they encounter persecution or any form of threat in life (Luke 21:19). Those who consider this message will have increased chances of overcoming all challenges and eventually being empowered to become part of God’s kingdom.
While the selected verses begin with a story revolving around the temple and its qualities, the reader is able to interpret the work carefully in an effort to get the intended message. The use of Stein’s approach ensures that the reader does not use the text to describe how God intends to place His judgment on the wider human society. Instead, the message appears to discourage believers to avoid focusing mostly on the perishable and temporary human achievements and institutions. The portrayal of the widow in the first verses of the chapter (Luke 21:1-3) could shed more light regarding the importance of focusing on the less fortunate in the society and helping them accordingly. This kind of practice appears to be more acceptable and capable of guiding believers to neutralize evil in the society.
By considering all these attributes, it becomes quite clear that people should be ready to remain firm in God. They should put their trust in Him and ask for guidance whenever different forms of calamities are recorded on Earth (Luke 21:7-19). Stein encourages the reader to look beyond the presented destruction since it emerged as a form of imagery. Through an apocalyptic approach, the Christian believer would be able to learn more about the promoted hope (21:14-19). The emerging evidence is that God will always be ready and willing to help those who believe in Him. He would be glad to guide followers whenever they encounter challenges that are capable of affecting their goals.
The chapter goes further to describe the challenges Jerusalem stands to encounter in the hands of the gentiles (21: 20-24). However, a day is prophesied whereby Jerusalem would eventually become free or not occupied by foreigners. Using the same approach for religious interpretation, the reader observes that Jerusalem could depict the life of a believer. While adversities might continue to exist, those who remain steadfast and continue to focus on God would not live in challenges forever. In Luke 21: 25-28, the reader observes that the occurrence of calamities on the world would mean that God’s people are close to redemption. In these passages, it becomes quite clear that most of the calamities and tribulations on Earth will not be permanent. The symbolic attribute of Jesus’ second coming would mean that more people will no longer have to cry or worry.
Using the imagery of a fig tree when it buds in preparation for summer, the book of Luke (21: 29-33) describes who the Kingdom of God remains near. The work assures readers that most of the prophesied events would come to take place in a short period. While the planet and the heaven might pass away, God’s words will not” (Luke: 21: 33). From this work, the real interpretation is that the generation that will begin to witness the signs Jesus spoke about should be prepared for the prophesied Great Tribulation. By focusing on God’s words, people are required to appreciate the fact that those who remain righteous and maintain their hope in Him would eventually become part of the eternal kingdom.
By focusing on Stein’s approaches to interpretation, it becomes quite clear that the presented verses appear to present similar meaning to those who read it. Those who read the work from different perspectives would receive the same understanding. Specifically, they will appreciate that Luke 21 needs to be examined as an apocalyptic or prophetic work. The specific message indicates that the challenges associated with the temple denote the issues Christian believers should expect, such as betrayal, persecution, abuses, and rejection (Stein, 2011, 298). In spite of such challenges, believers need to remain hopeful and put their eyes on the eternal kingdom that would be the final reward.
The only difference that could emerge in the interpretation of these passages would occur in Luke 21: 32. In the verse, the Bible reads: “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place” (Luke 21:32). Divergent opinion could occur when some interpreters chose to refer to the identified generation as that of the Jews or the one that might experience the prophesied events. However, the common consensus could be that the work referred to the Jewish people.
References
Dunn, J. (2020). Why four Gospels? Why only four?Holiness, 3(1), 35-55. Web.
Snodgrass, K. R. (2008). Stories with intent: A comprehensive guide to the parables of Jesus. Eerdmans.
Stein, R. H. (2011). A basic guide to interpreting the Bible. Baker Publishing Group.