Reading the Gospels Together The Storyline of Matthew’s Gospel – Part 3 At this point Matthew picks up Mark’s story of the baptism of Jesus. Matthew quotes Mark nearly word for word; however, he expands Mark’s story in a couple of ways. In doing this Matthew softens the impact of Mark’s story and makes it a much less explosive story. Matthew expands the ministry of John the baptist thus drawing more attention to John. He does this by quoting some material we will also find in Luke’s gospel when Luke tells us this story. Where Mark has compressed the story of John the baptist, Matthew expands it. John has an important ministry of his own. In fact Matthew likely knows that John the baptist, or at least his followers, was somewhat of a rival to Jesus. So Matthew downplays John by telling his readers that when Jesus comes to be baptized by John at first John resists and only submits to Jesus request when Jesus tells his that it is necessary to fulfill all righteousness. In the actual telling of the story of the baptism Mark had told his readers that the heavens were torn open and the Spirit came upon Jesus and only Jesus heard the words of God, “You are my Son. With you I am well pleased.” Matthews changes this to say that the heavens were opened, a much less dramatic event, and that those around heard the voice, “This is my Son. With him I am well pleased.” Following Mark, Matthew now tells the story of Jesus being led, not “cast out” as Mark put it, but led into the wilderness where he is tested. Matthew expands this scene as well quoting from the source he shares with Luke but in a slightly different order than Luke has it. Matthew’s expansion of Mark brings the OT book of Deuteronomy fully into the minds of Matthew’s readers and makes clearer the reality that where Israel was unfaithful in the wilderness Jesus is faithful. Still following Mark Matthew now tells his readers in an expanded narrative how Jesus left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum. And for a seventh time Matthew finds an OT proof text to support his message. This time he quotes Isaiah. Mark had begun his story of the ministry of Jesus with the words, “The time is up, the Kingdom of God has dawned, repent and believe the good news.” Matthew shortens Mark’s words to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Again this softens the boldness of Mark’s proclamation. And we need to note that Matthew will consistently change Mark’s “Kingdom of God” to “kingdom of heaven” likely in deference to the Jewish practice of avoiding the uses of the name of “God.” Matthew has his Jewish readers in mind. Following Mark almost word for word Matthew now tells the story of the call of the first four disciples – Peter and Andrew, James and John. Matthew has already changed Simon’s name to Peter, though, like Mark, without explanation at this time. At this point Mark had told the story of “a day in the ministry of Jesus” at Capernaum. Matthew omits all of this from Mark. Matthew tells no story of Jesus teaching with authority in the Capernaum synagogue where a man with an unclean spirit recognizes Jesus as the Holy One of God and is cleansed by Jesus and commanded to keep silent. Matthew will save the story of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law for later. There is no story of Jesus retreating in prayer and deciding to move throughout Galilee. Matthew simply picks up Mark’s summary statement and uses it to conclude this first statement about the ministry of Jesus.