SYNOPSIS OF THE LIFE OF JESUS.

I.

HIS BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD.

TIME: About thirteen and a half years.

AN angel appears to Mary, Luke 1: 26-38; also to Joseph, Matt. 1: 18-25; Jesus born at Bethlehem, Luke 2: 1-7; his circumcision and presentation in the temple, Luke 2: 21-38; the visit of the Magi, Matt. 2: 1-12; flight into Egypt, Matt. 2: 13-23; at twelve years of age Jesus goes to the Passover, Luke 2: 41-52; his genealogy on the side of Joseph, Matt. 1: 1-17; on that of his mother, Luke 3: 22-38.

II.

ANNOUNCEMENT AND INTRODUCTION OF OUR LORD'S PUBLIC MINISTRY. TIME: About one year.

Jesus comes to John to be baptized, Matt. 3: 13-17; Mark 1: 9-11; Luke 3: 21-23; is tempted of the devil, Matt. 4: 1-11; Mark 1: 12-13; Luke 4: 1-13; is testified to by John, John 1: 19-34; gains disciples, John 1: 35-51; attends a marriage at Cana, where he performs his first miracle, John 2: 1-11; goes down to Capernaum, John 2: 12.

III.

OUR LORD'S FIRST PASSOVER, AND THE EVENTS OF HIS MINISTRY UNTIL THE SECOND.

TIME: One year.

Jesus attends the Passover, and drives the traders out of the temple, John 2: 13-25; discourses with Nicodemus, John 3: 1-21; remains in Judea and baptizes, John 3: 22-24; is further testified to by John the Baptist, John 3: 25-36; departs into Galilee, Matt. 4: 12; Mark 1: 14; Luke 4: 14; John 4: 1-3; discourses with the woman of Samaria, John 4: 4-42; teaches in Galilee, Matt. 4: 17; Mark 1: 14, 15; Luke 4: 14, 15; John 4: 43-45; heals the son of a nobleman at Cana, John 4: 46-54; is rejected by his fellow townsmen of Nazareth, Luke 4: 16-29; takes up his abode at Capernaum, Matt. 4: 13-16; Luke 4: 30, 31; calls Peter, Andrew, James and John, at the time of the miraculous draught of fishes, Matt. 4: 18-22; Mark 1: 16-20; Luke 5: 1-11; heals a demoniac in the synagogue at Capernaum, Mark 1: 21-28: Luke 4: 31-37; heals Peter's wife's mother and many others, Matt. 8: 14-17; Mark 1: 29-34; Luke 4: 38-41; goes with his disciples throughout Galilee, Matt. 4: 23-25; Mark 1: 35-39; Luke 4: 42-44; heals a leper, Matt. 8:2-4; Mark 1: 40-45; Luke 5: 12-16; returns to Capernaum, where he heals a paralytic, Matt. 9; 2-8; Mark 2: 1-12; Luke 5: 17-26; calls Matthew, Matt. 9:9; Mark 2: 13, 14; Luke 5: 27, 28.

IV.

FROM OUR LORD'S SECOND PASSOVER UNTIL THE THIRD.

TIME: One year.

Jesus goes up to Jerusalem to the feast of the passover, John 5:1; heals an infirm man at the pool of Bethesda, John 5:2-9; his discourse with the Jews consequent thereon, John 5: 10-47; on his way back to Galilee, his disciples pluck ears of grain on the sabbath, for which act he justifies them against the charge of the Pharisees, Matt 12: 1-8; Mark 2: 23-28; Luke 6:1-5; heals a man with a withered hand on the sabbath, Matt. 12: 9-14; Mark 3: 1-6; Luke 6: 6-11: withdraws to the sea of Tiberias, whither he is followed by multitudes, Matt. 12: 15-21; Mark 3: 7-12; ascends a mountain and spends the whole night in prayer, Luke 6: 12; chooses and ordains the twelve, Matt. 10: 2-4; Mark 3: 13-19; Luke 6: 13-19; delivers the Sermon on the Mount, Matt. ch. v-vII.; Luke 6: 20-49; heals the centurion's servant at Capernaum, Matt. 8: 5-13; Luke 6:1-10; raises the widow's son at Nain, Luke 7: 11-17; receives a message from John the Baptist, Matt. 11: 2-6; Luke 7: 18-23; discourses with the multitude respecting John, Matt. 11: 7-19; Luke 7: 24-35; upbraids Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, Matt. 11: 20-30; sits at meat with a Pharisee, when his feet are anointed by a woman who had been a sinner, Luke 7: 36-50; makes with the Twelve a second circuit in Galilee, Luke 8: 1-3; heals a demoniac, at which the scribes and Pharisees blaspheme, Matt. 12: 22-37; Mark 3: 19-30; Luke 11: 14, 15, 17–23; refuses a sign to the scribes and Pharisees, and reproves them for their unbelief, Matt. 12: 38-45; Luke 11: 16, 24-36; is sought by his mother and brethren, Matt. 12: 46-50; Mark 3: 31-35; Luke 8: 19-21; dines with a Pharisee, Luke 11: 37; and reproves the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy, Luke 11: 38-54; warns his disciples and the multitude against the leaven of the Pharisees, Luke 12: 1-12; refuses to act as umpire in secular disputes, Luke 12: 13-15; pronounces the parable of the rich fool, Luke 12: 16-21; exhorts to reliance upon God, and to watchfulness, Luke 12: 22-53; reproves the people for their unbelief, Luke 12: 54-59; pronounces the parable of the barren fig tree, Luke 13: 6-9; and of the sower, Matt. 13: 1-23; Mark 4: 1-25; Luke 8:4-18; and of the tares, Matt. 13: 24-30; and other parables, Matt. 13: 31-53; Mark 4: 26-34; crosses the lake and stills the tempest, Matt. 8: 18-27; Mark 4: 35-41; Luke 8: 22-25; 9: 57-61; heals the two demoniacs of Gadara, Matt. 8: 28-34; 9: 1; Mark 5: 1-21; Luke 8: 26-40; is entertained by Levi, Matt. 9: 10-17; Mark 2: 15-22; Luke 5: 29-39; raises Jairus' daughter and heals the woman with a bloody flux, Matt. 9: 18-26; Mark 5: 22-43; Luke 8: 41-56; heals two blind men and casts out a dumb spirit, Matt. 9: 27-34; is again rejected at Nazareth, Matt. 13: 54-58; Mark 6:1-6; makes a third circuit in Galilee and commissions and sends forth the Twelve, Matt. 9: 35-38; 10: 1, 5-42; 11: 1; Mark 6: 6-13; Luke 9: 1-6; retires with the Twelve across the lake, and feeds five thousand, Matt. 14: 13-21; Mark 6: 30-44; Luke 9: 10-17; John 6:1-14; walks upon the water, Matt. 14: 22-36; Mark 6: 45-56, John 6: 15–21; discourses with the multitude on the true bread of life, John 6: 22-71; 7: 1.

V.

FROM OUR LORD'S THIRD PASSOVER UNTIL HIS FINAL DEPARTURE FROM GALILEE AT THE FESTIVAL OF TABERNACLES.

TIME: Six Months.

Jesus justifies his disciples for eating with unwashen hands, Matt. 15: 1-20; Mark 7: 1-23; goes into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, where he heals the daughter of the Syrophenician woman, Matt. 15: 21-28; Mark 7: 24-30; returns to Decapolis and heals a deaf and dumb man, and feeds four thousand, Matt. 15: 29-38; Mark 7: 31-37; 8:1-9; refuses a sign to the Pharisees and Sadducees, Matt. 15: 39; 16:1-4; Mark 8: 10-12; cautions the disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees, Matt. 16: 4-12; Mark 8: 13-21; heals a blind man at Bethsaida, Mark 8: 22-26; departs to the region of Cæsarea Philippi, and receives from Peter and the disciples the profession of their faith, Matt. 16: 13-20; Mark 8: 27-30; Luke 9: 18-21; foretells his own death and resurrection, Matt. 16: 21-28; Mark 8: 31-38; 9:1; Luke 9: 22-27; is transfigured, Matt. 17: 1-13; Mark 9: 2-13; Luke 9: 28-36; heals a demoniac whom his disciples could not cure, Matt. 17: 14-21; Mark 9: 14-29; Luke 9: 37-43;

again foretells his own death and resurrection, Matt. 17: 22, 23; Mark 9: 30-32; Luke 9:43-45; returns to Capernaum and miraculously provides tribute-money, Matt. 17: 24-27; Mark 9: 33; exhorts his disciples to humility and brotherly love, Matt. 18: 1-35; Mark 9: 33-50; Luke 9: 46-50; instructs and sends forth the Seventy, Luke 10: 1-16; takes his final departure from Galilee and goes up to the feast of tabernacles, John 7: 2-10; Luke 9: 51-56; passes through Samaria where he cleanses ten lepers, Luke 17: 11-19.

VI.

FEAST OF TABERNACLES AND OUR LORD'S SUBSEQUENT ACTS UNTIL HIS ARRIVAL AT BETHANY, SIX DAYS BEFORE THE

FOURTH PASSOVER.

TIME: Six months wanting six days.

Jesus attends the feast of tabernacles, and teaches publicly, John 7: 11-53; 8:1; takes occasion from their charge against the woman taken in adultery, to rebuke the Pharisees, John 8: 2-11; reproves in a further discourse the Jews, who in consequence attempt to stone him, John 8: 12-59; pronounces the parable of the good Samaritan, Luke 10: 25-37; visits Martha and Mary at Bethany, Luke 10: 38-42; teaches his disciples again how to pray, Luke 11: 1-13; receives the Seventy on their return and rejoices in their spiritual knowledge, Luke 10: 17-24; heals at Jerusalem on the sabbath a man who was born blind, at which the Pharisees are highly displeased, John 9: 1-41; 10: 1-21; is present in Jerusalem at the feast of dedication, after which he retires beyond Jordan, John 10: 22-42; raises Lazarus from the dead at Bethany, John 11: 1-46; again retires from Jerusalem in consequence of the murderous designs of the chief priests and Pharisees, John 11: 47-54; is followed by multitudes beyond Jordan, and heals an infirm woman on the sabbath, Matt. 19: 1, 2; Mark 10: 1; Luke 13: 10-21; teaches on his way to Jerusalem, Luke 13: 22-35; dines with a chief Pharisee on the sabbath, Luke 14: 1-24; shows what is required of true disciples, Luke 14: 25-35; pronounces the parables of the lost sheep, the prodigal son, the unjust steward, and the rich man and Lazarus, Luke 15: 1-32; 16: 1-31 inculcates forbearance and faith, Luke 17: 1-10; predicts the suddenness of his final coming, Luke 17: 20-37; pronounces the parables of the importunate widow, and the Pharisee and publican, Luke 18: 1-14; gives precepts respecting divorce, Matt. 19: 8-12; Mark 10: 2-12; receives and blesses little children, Matt. 19: 13-15; Mark 10: 13-16; Luke 18: 15-17; answers the inquiry of the rich young man, and pronounces the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, Matt. 19: 16-30; 20: 1-16; Mark 10: 17-31; Luke 18: 18-30; foretells a third time his death and resurrection, Matt. 20: 17-19; Mark 10: 32-34; Luke 18: 31-34; replies to the ambitious request of James and John, Matt. 20: 20-28; Mark 10: 35-45; heals two blind men near Jericho, Matt. 20: 29-34; Mark 10: 46-52; Luke 18: 35-43; 19: 1; visits Zaccheus and utters the parable of the ten pounds, Luke 19: 2-28; arrives at Bethany six days before the Passover, John 11: 55-57; 12: 1, 9-11.

VII.

OUR LORD'S PUBLIC ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM, AND THE SUBSEQUENT TRANSACTIONS BEFORE THE FOURTH PASSOVER.

TIME: Four days.

Jesus makes his public entry into Jerusalem, Matt. 21: 1-11, 14-17; Mark 11: 1-11; Luke 19: 29-44; John 12: 12-19; curses the barren fig tree and cleanses a second time the temple, Matt. 21: 12, 13, 18, 19; Mark 11: 12-19; Luke 19: 45-48; his authority questioned by the chief priests, on which he pronounces the parable of the two sons, Matt. 21: 23-32; Mark 11: 27-33; Luke 20:1-8; and of the wicked husbandmen, Matt. 21: 33-46; Mark 12: 1-12; Luke 20: 9-19; and of the marriage of the king's son, Matt. 22: 1-14; replies to the question of the lawfulness of giving tribute to Cæsar, Matt. 22: 15-22; Mark 12: 13-17; Luke 20: 20-26; teaches the Sadducees the doctrine of the resurrection, Matt. 22: 23-33; Mark 12: 18-27; Luke 20: 27-40; is questioned by a lawyer as to what is the great commandment of the law, Matt. 22: 34-40; Mark 12: 28, 34; proposes a question to the Pharisees respecting the relation of Christ to David, Matt. 22: 41-46; Mark 12: 35-37: Luke 20: 41-44; pronounces woes upon the Pharisees and laments over Jerusalem, Matt. 23: 1-39;

Mark 12: 38-40; Luke 20: 45-47; commends the widow who cast two mites into the treasury, Mark 12: 41-44; Luke 21: 1-4; foretells the destruction of the temple, Matt. 24: 1-42; Mark 13: 1-37; Luke 21: 5-36; exhorts to watchfulness in reference to his final coming, Matt. 24: 43-51; pronounces the parables of the ten virgins and five talents, Matt. 25: 1-30; describes the scenes of the last judgment, Matt. 25: 13-46; sups at Bethany, Matt. 26: 1-16; Mark 14: 1-9; Luke 22: 1, 2; John 12: 2-8; is betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Matt. 26: 14-16; Mark 14: 10, 11; Luke 21: 3-6; prepares to eat the passover, Matt. 26: 17-19; Mark 14: 12-16; Luke 22: 7-13.

VIII.

FOURTH PASSOVER; OUR LORD'S PASSION, AND THE ACCOMPANYING CIRCUMSTANCES UNTIL THE END OF THE JEWISH SABBATH.

TIME: Two days.

Jesus eats the passover with his disciples, Matt. 26: 20; Mark 14: 17; Luke 22: 14-18; washes their feet, John 13: 1-20; points out Judas as the traitor, Matt. 26: 21-35; Mark 14: 18-21; Luke 22: 21-23; John 13: 21-35; foretells Peter's fall, Matt. 26: 31-35; Mark 14: 27-31; Luke 22: 31-38; John 13: 36-38; institutes the Lord's Supper, Matt. 26: 26-29: Mark 14: 22-25; Luke 22: 19, 20; 1 Cor. 11: 23-25; comforts his disciples, John 14: 1-31; declares himself to be the true Vine, John 15: 1–27; promises the "Comforter, John 16: 1-33; prays for his disciples and other believers, John 17: 1-26; goes forth to Gethsemane where he is in a dreadful agony, Matt. 26: 30, 36-46; Mark 14: 26: 32–42; Luke 22: 89-46; John 18: 1; is betrayed and made prisoner, Matt. 26: 47-56; Mark 14: 43-52; Luke 22: 47-53; John 18: 2-12; is brought before Caiaphas and denied by Peter, Matt. 26: 57, 58, 69-75; Mark 14: 53, 54, 66-72; Luke 22: 54-62; John 18: 13-18, 25-27; is brought before the Sanhedrim and condemned and mocked, Matt. 26: 59-68; Mark 14: 55–65; Luke 22: 63-71; John 18: 19-24; is led away to Pilate, Matt. 27: 1, 2, 11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23: 1-5; John 18: 28-38; is sent to Herod, Luke 23: 6-12; is delivered by Pilate to be crucified, Matt. 27: 26-30; Mark 15: 15-19; John 19:1-3; is led away to Calvary, Matt. 27: 31-34; Mark 15: 20-23; Luke 23: 26-33; John 19: 16, 17; is crucified, Matt. 27: 35-38; Mark 15: 24-28; Luke 23: 33-38; John 19: 18-24; is mocked on the cross, Matt. 27: 39-44; Mark 15: 29-32; Luke 23: 35-43; expires on the cross, Matt. 27: 45-50; Mark 15: 33-37; Luke 23: 44-46; is taken down from the cross and buried, Matt. 27: 57-61; Mark 15: 42-47; Luke 23: 50-56; John 19: 31-42.

IX.

OUR LORD'S RESURRECTION, SUBSEQUENT APPEARANCES AND

ASCENSION.

TIME: Forty days.

The women visit the sepulchre, Matt. 28: 1; Mark 16: 2-4; Luke 24: 1-3; John 20: 1, 2; vision of angels in the sepulchre, Matt. 28: 5-7; Mark 16: 5-7; Luke 24: 4-8; Jesus meets the women on their way back to the city, Matt. 28: 8-10; Mark 16: 8; Peter and John run to the sepulchre, Luke 24: 12; John 20: 3-10; Jesus shows himself to Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, Mark 16:9-11; John 20: 11-18; the report of the watch, Matt. 28: 11-15; Jesus is seen by Peter, 1 Cor. 15: 5; and by the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, Mark 16: 12, 13; Luke 24: 13-35; shows himself the same evening to the disciples, Thomas being absent, Mark 16: 14-18; Luke 24: 36-40; John 20: 19-23; 1 Cor. 15:5; and again one week after, Thomas being present, John 20: 24-29; shows himself to seven of them at the Sea of Tiberias, John 21: 1-24; meets above 500 brethren on a mountain in Galilee, Matt. 28: 16, 20; 1 Cor. 15: 6; is seen of James, and then of all the apostles, 1 Cor. 15: 7; Acts 1: 3-8; ascends to heaven, Mark 16: 19, 20; Luke 24: 50-53; Acts 1: 9-12.

PREFACE TO THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW.

MATTHEW, called also Levi, the son of Alpheus (Mark 2: 14; Luke 3: 57, 29), was a publican or toll-gatherer under the Romans. He was a Galilean, but of what city or tribe of Israel it is unknown. He was first called by Jesus, while he abode in Capernaum (Matt. 9: 9). It is not probable, however, that he followed Jesus continuously, until he had settled his accounts with those by whom he had been employed (see N. on Matt. 9: 9). The field of his labors, after the apostles went abroad to preach to the Gentiles, is quite uncertain. Later writers say that he went to Ethiopia, where he is supposed to have died a martyr's death. This, however, is denied by Heracleon, as cited by Clement of Alexandria.

Various dates are assigned to the publication of Matthew's Gospel. It was beyond all question the first of the four Synoptic Gospels, and written probably some 30 years after the death of Christ. As it regards the language in which it was written, there has been much dispute. It is the almost unanimous testimony of the early Fathers, that it was originally composed in the Hebrew language, as spoken then by the inhabitants of Palestine. There is no question that it was written for the Hebrew Christians in Palestine, but this does not preclude its composition in Greek, since that was the prevalent language throughout the East, at the time when his gospel was probably written. The early Fathers might well and naturally imagine that, inasmuch as it was written for the Hebrew Christians, it was written in Hebrew. But it is a remarkable fact that no citations have been made from this supposed Hebrew gospel, nor was it used by those very Fathers on whose testimony it is supposed to have existed. The internal evidence in favor of a Greek original is so strong, that the best modern critics regard it as an incontrovertible fact that the gospel was written in that language by Matthew himself. Olshausen, in