HOME SUMMA PRAYERS FATHERS CLASSICS CONTACT
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA
CATHOLIC SAINTS INDEX 
CATHOLIC DICTIONARY 

Keep Site Running

Ultimate Gospel Comparison Chart and In-depth Analysis

Table of Contents

About This Gospel Comparison Resource

This comprehensive gospel comparison chart organizes events from the life of Jesus as recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It's a tool for Bible study, theological research, and deepening one's faith through understanding the unique perspectives of each evangelist.

By comparing these accounts side-by-side, we can gain a fuller, more nuanced understanding of Jesus' life, teachings, and the early Church.

"The Gospels are the heart of all the Scriptures 'because they are our principal source for the life and teaching of the Incarnate Word, our Savior'." - Catechism of the Catholic Church, 125

Gospel Comparison Chart

Event Location Matthew Mark Luke John
Prologue: The Word became fleshN/A1:1-18
Genealogy of JesusN/A1:1-173:23-38
Announcement of John the Baptist's birthJerusalem (Temple)1:5-25
Announcement of Jesus' birth to MaryNazareth1:26-38
Mary visits ElizabethJudea1:39-56
Birth of John the BaptistJudea1:57-80
Joseph's dreamNazareth1:18-25
Birth of JesusBethlehem2:12:1-7
Visit of the MagiBethlehem2:1-12
Escape to EgyptEgypt2:13-15
Massacre of the InnocentsBethlehem2:16-18
Return from EgyptNazareth2:19-23
Angels announce Jesus' birth to shepherdsBethlehem2:8-20
Jesus presented in the templeJerusalem (Temple)2:22-38
Jesus as a boy in the templeJerusalem (Temple)2:41-52
Ministry of John the BaptistJordan River3:1-121:1-83:1-201:19-28
Baptism of JesusJordan River3:13-171:9-113:21-221:29-34
Temptation of JesusWilderness4:1-111:12-134:1-13
Calling of the first disciplesGalilee4:18-221:16-205:1-111:35-51
Wedding at CanaCana2:1-12
Jesus clears the templeJerusalem (Temple)21:12-1711:15-1919:45-482:13-22
Jesus teaches NicodemusJerusalem3:1-21
John's testimony about JesusJudea3:22-36
Jesus talks with a Samaritan womanSychar (Samaria)4:1-26
Many Samaritans believeSychar (Samaria)4:27-42
Jesus heals an official's sonCana4:43-54
Jesus begins Galilean ministryGalilee4:12-171:14-154:14-15
Jesus rejected at NazarethNazareth13:53-586:1-64:16-30
Jesus teaches with authority in CapernaumCapernaum1:21-22
Jesus drives out an evil spiritCapernaum1:23-28
Jesus heals manyCapernaum8:14-171:29-34
Jesus prays in a solitary placeNear Capernaum1:35-39
Jesus heals a man with leprosyGalilee8:1-41:40-45
Jesus heals a paralyzed manCapernaum9:1-82:1-12
Healing at the pool of BethesdaJerusalem5:1-15
The authority of the SonJerusalem5:16-30
Testimonies about JesusJerusalem5:31-47
Calling of Matthew (Levi)Capernaum9:9-132:13-17
Jesus questioned about fastingGalilee9:14-172:18-22
Jesus is Lord of the SabbathGalilee12:1-82:23-28
Healing of the man with a shriveled handGalilee12:9-143:1-6
Crowds follow JesusGalilee12:15-213:7-12
Jesus appoints the TwelveNear Sea of Galilee10:1-43:13-19
Sermon on the Mount/PlainNear Sea of Galilee5:1-7:296:17-49
Jesus accused by his family and by teachers of the lawGalilee12:22-373:20-30
Jesus' mother and brothersGalilee12:46-503:31-35
Parable of the SowerGalilee13:1-234:1-20
Lamp on a standGalilee5:14-164:21-25
Parable of the weedsGalilee13:24-30
Parables of the mustard seed and yeastGalilee13:31-334:30-34
Explanation of the parable of the weedsNear Sea of Galilee13:36-43
Parables of the hidden treasure and pearlNear Sea of Galilee13:44-46
Parable of the netNear Sea of Galilee13:47-52
Jesus calms the stormGalilee8:23-274:35-41
Healing of demon-possessed manGerasenes8:28-345:1-20
Healing of a bleeding woman and raising of Jairus' daughterCapernaum9:18-265:21-43
Jesus sends out the TwelveGalilee10:5-426:7-13
John the Baptist beheadedMachaerus (Herod's fortress)14:1-126:14-29
Feeding of the 5,000Near Bethsaida14:13-216:30-449:10-176:1-15
Jesus walks on waterGalilee14:22-336:45-566:16-21
Jesus the bread of lifeCapernaum6:22-59
Many disciples desert JesusCapernaum6:60-71
Clean and uncleanGalilee15:1-207:1-23
Faith of a Canaanite womanTyre and Sidon15:21-287:24-30
Jesus heals manyGalilee15:29-31
Feeding of the 4,000Decapolis15:32-398:1-13
Pharisees and Sadducees ask for a signMagadan16:1-4
Yeast of the Pharisees and SadduceesGalilee16:5-128:14-21
Jesus goes to the Feast of TabernaclesJerusalem7:1-13
Jesus teaches at the FeastJerusalem (Temple)7:14-44
Unbelief of the Jewish leadersJerusalem7:45-52
The woman caught in adulteryJerusalem (Temple)[7:53-8:11]
Jesus the light of the worldJerusalem (Temple)8:12-20
Dispute over Jesus' testimonyJerusalem8:21-30
The children of AbrahamJerusalem8:31-59
Jesus heals a man born blindJerusalem9:1-41
The good shepherdJerusalem10:1-21
Peter's confession of ChristCaesarea Philippi16:13-208:27-309:18-20
Jesus predicts his deathCaesarea Philippi16:21-238:31-33
The TransfigurationMount of Transfiguration17:1-139:2-139:28-36
Healing of a boy with an evil spiritNear Mount of Transfiguration17:14-219:14-29
Jesus predicts his death a second timeGalilee17:22-239:30-32
The temple taxCapernaum17:24-27
Who is the greatest?Capernaum18:1-59:33-37
Causing to sinCapernaum18:6-99:42-50
Parable of the lost sheepCapernaum18:10-14
Dealing with sin in the churchCapernaum18:15-20
Parable of the unmerciful servantCapernaum18:21-35
Jesus at the Feast of DedicationJerusalem10:22-42
The death of LazarusBethany11:1-16
Jesus comforts the sistersBethany11:17-37
Jesus raises Lazarus from the deadBethany11:38-44
The plot to kill JesusJerusalem11:45-57
Jesus sends out the seventy-twoJudea10:1-24
Parable of the Good SamaritanJudea10:25-37
Jesus teaches the Lord's PrayerJudea6:9-1311:1-4
Jesus blesses little childrenPerea19:13-1510:13-16
The rich young manPerea19:16-3010:17-31
Parable of the workers in the vineyardPerea20:1-16
Jesus predicts his death a third timeOn the way to Jerusalem20:17-1910:32-34
Request of James and JohnOn the way to Jerusalem20:20-2810:35-45
Blind men receive sightJericho20:29-3410:46-52
Jesus anointed at BethanyBethany26:6-1314:3-912:1-11
Triumphal entry into JerusalemJerusalem21:1-1111:1-1119:28-4412:12-19
Jesus predicts his deathJerusalem12:20-36
The Jews continue in their unbeliefJerusalem12:37-50
Jesus curses a fig tree and clears the templeJerusalem21:12-2211:12-19
The authority of Jesus questionedJerusalem (Temple)21:23-2711:27-33
Parable of the two sonsJerusalem (Temple)21:28-32
Parable of the tenantsJerusalem (Temple)21:33-4612:1-12
Parable of the wedding banquetJerusalem22:1-14
Paying taxes to CaesarJerusalem22:15-2212:13-17
Marriage at the resurrectionJerusalem22:23-3312:18-27
The greatest commandmentJerusalem22:34-4012:28-34
Whose son is the Christ?Jerusalem22:41-4612:35-40
Seven woes on the teachers of the law and PhariseesJerusalem23:1-39
Signs of the end of the ageMount of Olives24:1-5113:1-37
Parable of the ten virginsMount of Olives25:1-13
Parable of the talentsMount of Olives25:14-30
The sheep and the goatsMount of Olives25:31-46
Plot against JesusJerusalem26:1-514:1-2
Judas agrees to betray JesusJerusalem26:14-1614:10-11
The Last SupperJerusalem (Upper Room)26:17-3014:12-2622:7-3813:1-17:26
Jesus predicts Peter's denialJerusalem (Upper Room)26:31-3514:27-3122:31-3413:36-38
Jesus prays in GethsemaneMount of Olives (Garden of Gethsemane)26:36-4614:32-4222:39-4618:1
Jesus' arrestGarden of Gethsemane26:47-5614:43-5222:47-5318:2-12
Jesus before the SanhedrinJerusalem (High Priest's house)26:57-6814:53-6522:54-7118:13-14,19-24
Peter's denialJerusalem (High Priest's courtyard)26:69-7514:66-7222:54-6218:15-18,25-27
Judas hangs himselfJerusalem27:1-10
Jesus before PilateJerusalem (Praetorium)27:11-2615:1-1523:1-2518:28-19:16
Soldiers mock JesusJerusalem (Praetorium)27:27-3115:16-2019:1-3
CrucifixionGolgotha (outside Jerusalem)27:32-4415:21-3223:26-4319:17-27
Death of JesusGolgotha27:45-5615:33-4123:44-4919:28-37
Jesus' burialGarden Tomb (near Golgotha)27:57-6115:42-4723:50-5619:38-42
The guard at the tombGarden Tomb27:62-66
ResurrectionGarden Tomb28:1-1016:1-824:1-1220:1-10
Jesus appears to Mary MagdaleneGarden Tomb[16:9-11]20:11-18
The guards' reportJerusalem28:11-15
Jesus appears to two disciplesRoad to Emmaus[16:12-13]24:13-35
Jesus appears to the disciplesJerusalem[16:14]24:36-4920:19-23
Jesus appears to ThomasJerusalem20:24-29
The purpose of John's gospelN/A20:30-31
Jesus and the miraculous catch of fishGalilee21:1-14
Jesus reinstates PeterGalilee21:15-25
The Great CommissionGalilee28:16-20[16:15-18]
AscensionMount of Olives[16:19-20]24:50-53

In-depth Gospel Analysis

The Synoptic Gospels

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the Synoptic Gospels due to their similar content, order, and language. As noted by Catholic scholar Raymond E. Brown in his work "An Introduction to the New Testament," each gospel has its unique emphasis:

  • Matthew: Emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the promised Messiah.
  • Mark: Presents Jesus as the suffering servant and Son of God, focusing on His actions.
  • Luke: Emphasizes Jesus' universal mission and His compassion for the marginalized.

The Gospel of John

John's gospel provides a profound theological reflection on Jesus' divinity and His role in salvation history. As explained by Scott Hahn in "The Lamb's Supper," John's gospel is deeply eucharistic and sacramental in its theology.

Key features of John's Gospel:

  • Emphasizes Jesus' divine nature and pre-existence
  • Includes the seven "I am" statements, reflecting Old Testament theology
  • Focuses on seven specific miracles, called "signs"
  • Provides extended discourses that deepen our understanding of Jesus' teachings

Historical Context of the Gospels

Understanding the historical context enhances our comprehension of the gospels' content and purpose. As discussed in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series:

  • Time of Writing: The gospels were written between 65-100 AD, within living memory of the events they describe.
  • Authors: The Church has traditionally attributed the gospels to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, reflecting their connection to apostolic testimony.
  • Audience: Each gospel was written for a specific audience, influencing its content and emphasis.
  • Cultural Setting: The gospels reflect the complex interplay of Jewish, Greek, and Roman cultures in 1st century Palestine.

Tips for Studying the Gospels

Drawing from "The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible," here are some tips for fruitful gospel study:

  1. Read in Context: Consider the literary and historical context of each passage.
  2. Compare Accounts: Look at how different gospels present the same event or teaching.
  3. Reflect on the Unity: While recognizing differences, appreciate the fundamental unity of the gospel message.
  4. Connect to Tradition: Study how the Church has interpreted these texts throughout history.
  5. Pray with Scripture: Use methods like Lectio Divina to engage prayerfully with the text.

Key Observations from Gospel Comparison

As noted by Catholic biblical scholars like Brant Pitre in "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist":

  • The Synoptic Gospels share many similarities in content and structure, while John offers a unique perspective.
  • Matthew and Luke include infancy narratives, each focusing on different aspects of Jesus' early life.
  • Mark's gospel, though shorter, provides a fast-paced narrative of Jesus' ministry.
  • John's gospel includes much more of Jesus' ministry in Judea, while the Synoptics focus more on Galilee.
  • The institution of the Eucharist, while not explicitly described in John, is prefigured in the Bread of Life discourse (John 6).

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are there differences between the gospels?

As explained by Pope Benedict XVI in "Jesus of Nazareth," the differences reflect the unique perspective and purpose of each evangelist. These differences provide a richer, more complete picture of Jesus' life and ministry, reflecting the living tradition of the early Church.

How do we reconcile apparent contradictions in the gospels?

The Pontifical Biblical Commission addresses this in "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church," noting that apparent contradictions often arise from different literary genres or theological emphases. These differences invite deeper study and reflection on the message being conveyed.

How should we approach the historical accuracy of the gospels?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 126-127) affirms that the gospels faithfully hand on what Jesus, the Son of God, really did and taught for our eternal salvation. While not always strictly chronological, they transmit the honest and true witness of Jesus' life and teachings.

Further Reading and Resources

Complete your gift to make an impact