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Similarities Between Matthew And The Gospel According To John

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One book governs millions of individuals – followers of the largest religion in the world. Christians turn to the Bible for guidance at home, in relationships, in the statehouse, in the schoolhouse and anywhere else they see fit. To the outsider, the conscious non-believer, it seems absurd and irrational to place so much value in one work. How can such a mysterious piece of history guide so many people on issues like abortion, and take credibility away from evidence-based science? Faith, of course, is the common answer to such criticism. But the Bible’s unique structure also gives it a level of credibility. It is made up of gospels – different “chapters” telling different versions of the same story, each from the vantage point of one of Jesus …show more content…

In comparing The Gospel According to Matthew and The Gospel According to John, we see not only two different perspectives of the same plot but also two different sets of values, emphasized by the words of Jesus and the actions of his supporting characters. For purposes of this paper, I’m zeroing in on love, a major theme in the Bible. Matthew and John have very different things to say about love – amongst people, between believer and God, and about the purpose of love depending on its object and lover. In the gospel according to Matthew, Jesus focuses on love in the context of rules and restrictions, while in the gospel according to John, love is observed more as a force within God, coming from God, and within all people, from God. Both gospels provide valuable lessons for contemporary readers, seeking to discover the word of God, or improve their love related practices in their own …show more content…

Before the birth, an angel tells Joseph to take Mary as his wife – something he had previously been reluctant to do. This may come as a surprise to many, as the sanctity of marriage and its purpose as an undying commitment between individuals in love is often touted as a key aspect of the Christian faith. Recall the heated debates in the United States between pro and anti gay marriage activists – the opposition’s most frequent reasoning was that gay marriage would stain a sacred biblical institution. Here, however, one of the most important marriages in the history of the world is arranged merely as the means for Jesus’ birth. Add to that the lack of sexual contact in the relationship, and any love related intimacy is removed from Jesus’ origin story. Of course Joseph is not really Jesus’ father, and Mary is not really his mother – at least not in a traditional sense. Jesus’ father is very clearly the Father, God, who says about Jesus, “this is my son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew, 4). Here God calls Jesus the “Beloved”, yet does not explicitly say He loves him – only that He is “well pleased”. Perhaps Jesus is the Beloved of all people on earth, who, through Him, will find salvation. As Jesus makes his travels, he seeks to amass a loyal team of disciples and spread the message of the lord. In one of his first official speeches, the Sermon on the Mount, he provides initial

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