The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are arranged in three parallel columns in the following pages, in their relative order with references in black type to each passage running consecutively.
°Put after the Scripture indicates that no parallel passage occurs, the small figures such as 74 143 shew immediately where the parallel passages can be found in each of the other Gospels.
Mark is the most strictly chronological.
Luke follows him closest where he is so; but the middle of the Gospel is a collection of instructions not chronological, but morally connected.
Matthew orders his materials, or the Holy Spirit by him, to shew the dealing with the Jews, as come to them according to promise, and the change to the new thing; and, though prophetically speaking of church as well as kingdom, leads Christ at the close to Galilee with the residue, and does not follow the history to the ascension; but he alone gives the history of the resurrection itself. Harmonies lose the distinctive power of the Gospels.
I believe Matthew 28: I, to mean the evening of Saturday, the crepuscule of evening, not of morning: verse 5 is a new paragraph. Luke 24:34 alludes to the appearing to Peter, of which Paul speaks. Luke’s account as to women is quite general. Mary Magdalene was at the sepulchre when it was dark; Peter and John go, and go away home. Mary remains and sees Jesus. When the women come, they see the angels and flee. Mary Magdalene, taught of Jesus, goes and tells the disciples. As the others went, Jesus meets them, and desires them to tell His disciples He was going into Galilee. Mary Magdalene was to tell them He was going to the Father. It was only in their flight the woman said nothing to anyone. After meeting Jesus they were probably re-assured; and, at any rate, afterwards they told what the angels told them, as we learn from the Lord going to Emmaus, and see Luke 24:9. But he unites all in a general statement as often, and adds other women. Verse 12 is apart; the Greek has not “then.” The accounts are very brief, and refer to the object of the Gospel. Several saw Him. See Mark 16:14; and 1 Corinthians 15.
* The chart was removed because it was not fully readable.