Continuing here from the previous post that looked at evidence that Luke was reworking Mark’s conclusion. The following tables distil and simplify key points from Jeffrey Peterson’s chapter in Marcan Priority Without Q: Explorations in the Farrer Hypothesis.
.
|
Matthew 28 |
Luke 24 |
Comments |
|
16. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. |
9. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. . . . 33. They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them. . . . |
M has related the death of Judas so his change from Twelve to Eleven is explained. But L has not yet spoken of Judas’s death; follows Matthew with the eleven? |
|
17. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but [also] doubted.
|
37. They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. . . . 41. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement . . . 52. Then they worshipped him . . . |
Worship combined with disbelief, though the doubts in L arise from joy. |
|
18. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . . 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . . . |
44. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you . . . 47. and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. . . . Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: |
M’s conclusion points to new phase; from Israel to the gentiles. L’s conclusion points to promises fulfilled in next volume, Acts. M quotes Daniel 7:14 [= He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshipped him] as fulfilled by Jesus; L is more explicit, informing readers that prophecy has been fulfilled in Jesus. In both M and L Jesus commands disciples to convert all nations, with reference to what he has told them while on earth with them. |
| 20. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. | 49. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. . . . 51. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. | M refers back to 18:20 [= For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them]. Luke avoids possible confusion by depicting Jesus ascending to heaven and having disciples wait for him to be with them through the Holy Spirit. |
.
Further on the question of Luke’s knowledge of Matthew, Peterson draws attention to the matching details Luke and Matthew add either side of the core narrative that is based heavily on Mark. Both start at the same point and both conclude at the same critical juncture with comparable sayings. Continue reading “How Luke Reworked Matthew’s Conclusion?”