How Luke Reworked Matthew’s Conclusion?

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.

In the absence of an introductory οί μέν, this is a better rendering than nrsv’s ‘they worshiped him; but some doubted’ . See Ulrich Luz, Matthew 21-28: A Commentary (Hermeneia; Minneapolis: Augsburg, 2005), pp. 622-3; P. W. van der Horst, Once More: The Translation o f hoi de in Matthew 28:17’, JSNT21 (1986), pp. 27-30.

(Peterson, p. 153).

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.

Matthew

Luke

• Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem
• Early life
  • with angel appearing to parent,
  • visits of divinely guided men to the infant,
  • relocation to Nazareth

• Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem
• Early life
  • with angel appearing to parent,
  • visits of divinely guided men to the infant,
  • relocation to Nazareth

Mark’s narrative plus sayings

Mark’s narrative plus sayings

• Empty tomb
  • followed by appearance of resurrected Jesus to persons other than the Eleven;
  • then appears to the Eleven

• Empty tomb
  • followed by appearance of resurrected Jesus to persons other than the Eleven;
  • then appears to the Eleven

• Jesus commissions the Eleven at his first appearance to them,
  • to preach what they have heard from him,
  • to all nations
  • in his name.

• Jesus commissions the Eleven at his first appearance to them,
  • to preach what they have heard from him,
  • to all nations
  • in his name.