Publisher's Synopsis
This commentary is a study guide for individual and group studies. It is designed to help students gain a new level of understanding of the life and ministry of Jesus as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels--Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Students with hearts and minds attuned to the Spirit will experience a fresh touch of inspiration from the greatest story ever told. Jesus's messages and examples for living are as relevant to life as they were when He ministered here on earth, centuries ago. As Peter asserted, Jesus, and only Jesus, has "the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). The Synoptic Gospels give us an amazing and inspiring account of Jesus's life and ministry. With the illumination of the Holy Spirit, when you read and study this commentary, His life and ministry can come alive to you in a fresh and inspiring way.
This study guide brings the three Synoptic Gospel writers' perspectives together in a unique way such that they complement each other and provide a fuller, enhanced account of Jesus's life and ministry. The basic approach is both chronological and topical. That is, the presentation begins with material that introduces Jesus's birth and continues in general chronological order to His ascension back to heaven. Passages from all three of the Synoptic Gospels are brought together to develop this chronological presentation.
However, Jesus's teachings and miracles are presented topically because it is impossible to determine the chronological order of these. Accordingly, passages on Jesus's teachings and miracles from all three of these Gospels are collected and presented together in a topical format. Therefore, while the story of Jesus's life and ministry is presented generally in chronological order, no attempt is made to present Jesus's teachings and miracles in chronological order. These topical collections are all in the multiple sections covering the years of Jesus's ministry.
At appropriate places throughout this study, passages in John's Gospel are cited and cross-referenced with the accounts being studied in the Synoptic Gospels. These will usually, but not always, appear near the end of each chapter. There will be some areas in the Synoptic Gospels for which there will be no significant cross-references to John's Gospel.
Also, as in all of Scripture, these Gospels consist of eternal, transcultural, unchanging truths (throughout the study referred to simply as Eternal Truths), and applications of these Eternal Truths in the situations of the times in which these Gospels were written. To encourage further thought and reflection, at the end of each chapter, Practical Life Applications and Reflection/Discussion Points are suggested, based on the profound Eternal Truths in the Scripture passages being studied. At the end of the book, responses to the Reflection/Discussion Points are provided, except for those that are designed for personal reflection or group discussion.
Further, throughout the study, readers are encouraged to identify and state the Eternal Truths that are in the passages in these Gospels that are being studied in each chapter. Eternal Truths that the author of this study has identified are listed at the end of this study. The Holy Spirit may enlighten you to identify and state others that are not identified and stated by the author.
Dr Wyckoff relies on his scholarly training, his skills of interpretation, and years of experience in teaching the Scripture, to supply a trustworthy understanding of the timeless truths in the Synoptic Gospels. This provides his foundation for drawing refreshing, new insights, and devotional inspiration from the eternal truths in the text, for meaningful applications to the needs of our culture today.
