The Synoptic Gospels are three books in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These three books are called “synoptic” because that word means “seeing together,” and these books tell a lot of the same stories about Jesus in similar ways. They share many of the same stories and details about Jesus’ life, teachings, miracles, and His death and resurrection.
Examples from the Synoptic Gospels
- The Story of Jesus Feeding the 5,000 – This miracle is found in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:12-17). They all tell how Jesus fed a huge crowd with only five loaves of bread and two fish.
- The Parable of the Mustard Seed – Jesus tells this parable in Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, and Luke 13:18-19 to explain how something small like a mustard seed can grow into a large tree, just like small good actions can grow into big, wonderful results.
- The Healing of the Blind Man – In Mark 8:22-26 and Luke 18:35-43, Jesus heals blind men, showing His power and kindness. Matthew also shares similar stories of Jesus healing the blind (Matthew 9:27-31, 20:29-34).
Three Main Takeaways from the Synoptic Gospels
- Jesus Teaches Important Lessons – All three Gospels show Jesus teaching people how to live good lives, love others, and know God.
- Jesus Performs Miracles – The Gospels record many miracles that Jesus did, like healing sick people and calming storms, showing He is God’s Son with great power.
- Jesus Loves Everyone – The stories of Jesus in these books show that He cares for everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from.
These Gospels help us learn a lot about Jesus’ life and His teachings, and they show us how to live in a way that pleases God.
