Swartzentrover.com | Fahling - A Harmony of the Gospels - Chapter 9

A Harmony of the Gospels

By Adam Fahling

Chapter 9

Part IX. The Beginning of the Great Galilean Ministry

Opening Events. Probably early spring, 28 A.D.

Table Of Contents Matthew Mark Luke John Other
51. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!"
[Mt 4:17] 
Mk 1:14b-15 
Lk 4:14b-15 
 
 
52. The Rejection at Nazareth
 
 
Lk 4:16-30
 
 
53. A New House at Capernaum
 
 
Lk 4:31-32
 
 
54. The Miraculous Draught of Flies, The Recall of the Four Fishermen
 Mt 4:18-22
 Mk 1:16-20
 [Lk 5:1-11]
 
 
55. Christ Teaches in a Synagogue and Heals a Demoniac
 
Mk 1:21-28 
Lk 4:33-37
 
 
56. The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law
 [Mt 8:14-15]
 Mk 1:29-31
 Lk 4:38-39
 
 
57. In the Evening Many Others are Healed  [Mt 8:16-17]
 Mk 1:32-34
 Lk 4:40-41
 
 

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51. "The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!"
(Mt 4:17, Mk 1:14b-15, Lk 4:14b-15)
The Galilean Ministry Begun
[Mt 4:17]

17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Mk 1:14b-15

14Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”

Lk 4:14b-15

14Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. 15He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

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52. The Rejection at Nazareth a
(Lk 4:16-30)
Lk 4:16-30

16He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

18“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,[1] to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”[2]

20He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

22All testified about him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

23He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, b do also here in your hometown.’” 24He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. c 25But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land. 26Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian.”

28They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. 29They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. 30But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way.


[1]4:18 NU omits “to heal the brokenhearted”

[2]4:19 Isaiah 61:1-2

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53. A New House at Capernaum
(Mt 4:13-16, Lk 4:31-32)
Mt 4:13-16

13Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned.”[1]

[1]4:16 Isaiah 9:1-2

Lk 4:31-32

31He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He was teaching them on the Sabbath day, 32and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.

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54. The Miraculous Draught of Flies, the Recall d on the four Fishermen
(Mt 4:18-22, Mk 1:16-20, Lk 5:1-11)
By the Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum, Probably early spring, 28 A.D.
Mt 4:18-22

18Walking by the sea of Galilee, he[1] saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”

20They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.


[1]4:18 TR reads “Jesus” instead of “he”

Mk 1:16-20

16Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”

18Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. 19Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

[Lk 5:1-11] e

1Now it happened, while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. 2He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.”

5Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” 6When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. 7They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”

11When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.

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55. Christ Teaches in a Synagogue and Heals a Demoniac
(Mk 1:21-28, Lk 4:33-37)
In Capernaum. On a Sabbath Day.
Mk 1:21-28

21They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!”

25Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

26The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.

Lk 4:33-37

33In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!”

35Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.

36Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region.

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56. The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law
(Mt 8:14-15, Mk 1:29-31, Lk 4:38-39)
In Capernaum. On the same day.
[Mt 8:14-15] f

14When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and served him.[1]


[1]8:15 TR reads “them” instead of “him”

Mk 1:29-31

29Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.

Lk 4:38-39

38He rose up from the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him for her. 39He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them.

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57. In the Evening Many others are Healed
(Mt 8:16-17, Mk 1:32-34, Lk 4:40-41)
[Mt 8:16-17] g

16When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick; 17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.”[1]


[1]8:17 Isaiah 53:4

Mk 1:32-34

32At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons. 33All the city was gathered together at the door. 34He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Lk 4:40-41

40When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41Demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

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Footnotes

a) For the second rejection see No. 90

b) This reference seems to imply an antecedent ministry. Probably there were some unrecorded miracles performed at Capernaum during the brief stay of John 2:12 (No. 33). Or the reference might possibly (though hardly) be to the healing of the nobleman's son of Capernaum who was healed from Cana. (No. 46.)

c) See No. 45, note 2. John 4:44

d) It seems that after the return of Jesus through Samaria to Galilee in December, 27 A.D. the disciples were permitted to return to their families and their accustomed labors, not to be recalled until the beginning of the great Galilean ministry in spring. Possibly there was one exception, John, who as the probable witness brings the account of the Unnamed Feast. This may explain the intervening silence in the Synoptists' account as also the supplementary character of the Gospel of St. John.

e)The parentheses indicate that the passage has been taken out of its own true order. Except in cases in which there is no chronological sequence involved, we for the first time are leaving the natural order of the individual Gospels. And until the death of John the Baptist there will be other transpositions, especially in Matthew, whose Gospel, it seems, was in part based on topical rather than a strict chronological arrangement. In spite of the ingenious arrangement of some older harmonists they cannot be avoided. The present author made the same attempt, in which neither time, thought, labor, nor paper was spared, for the purpose of constructing a harmony which leaves each Gospel in its own undisturbed sequence, but he was forced to give it up. In the present passage Luke himself does not seem to insist upon an order which places this miracle after the healing of Peter's mother-in-law-as evidenced in the reaction of Peter. When Christ miraculously delivered his own mother-in-law from a "great fever" Peter is silent. But when Christ performed this miracle Peter is moved to the expression: "Depart from me : for I am a sinful man." The unexpected nature of the miracle seems to indicate that it is to be placed before the healing of the demoniac in the synagogue, the healing of Peter's mother-in-law, and other miracles of healing in the same evening. Luke 4:33-40. From the sudden introduction of the sons of Zebedee in verse 10 Luke himself seems to indicate that above Passages are parallel.

f) Transposed. See remarks on previous transposition. No. 54. This is the first time we are leaving the natural order of Matthew. And not without good reason. According to Matthew Peter's mother-in-law was healed after the Sermon on the Mount. According to Luke the event took place before. Mark does not bring the Sermon on the Mount, but he is in complete harmony with Luke for the intervening events. And after the transposition of a few sections or groups of events he is also in constructed or relative harmony with Matthew. It is therefore assumed that Matthew does not insist upon a strict chronological sequence for these parts of his Gospel. Our own arrangement is based upon the following principles:

1. The Synoptists wrote independently of each other.

2. As a basic rule the natural order of each Gospel is to be followed throughout.

3. A few parts of Matthew, and also a few sections of Luke, are topical, rather than strictly chronological.

4. Unless expressly stated, transpositions are to be allowed on occasion, and a consideration of the purpose for which the events are grouped or the circumstances in which they are introduced is to be permitted.

5. All transpositions from the natural order of the respective Gospels are to be made only where absolutely necessary and after all other attempts at harmonization have failed.

g) Transposed, but immediately following previous section
 

 
[ ] Verses marked with brackets indicate that the passage has been taken out of its order.

 

Bible References taken from:
The World English Bible (WEB) is a Public Domain (no copyright) Modern English translation of the Holy Bible, based on the American Standard Version of the Holy Bible first published in 1901, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament.