A Comparison of the Four Gospels Concerning Palm Sunday

As you know, the Gospels consist of four books: the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of Luke, and the Gospel of John. Among these Gospels, people classify the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as the Synoptic Gospels.

 

The word “synoptic” means “seen together” or “having a common view.” They are classified this way because much of their content has many points in common. In other words, the Gospel of John is distinct from the other Gospels. In fact, even among the Synoptic Gospels, there are many differences. Therefore, when reading and understanding the four Gospels, it is important for us to compare them with one another and know which parts are the same and which parts are different. This is because God makes Jesus known to us more fully through the different perspectives of several authors.

 

In that sense, at this time I would like to consider the differences among the contents of the four Gospels concerning what we today observe as Palm Sunday. The passages compared with one another are as follows.

 

 

Matthew 21:1-17  |  Mark 11:1-19  |  Luke 19:28-48  |  John 12:9-18

 

 

- Differences among them -

 

1. The place where Jesus sent two of His disciples to bring the colt.

 

Matthew 21:1 “And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples.”

Mark 11:1 “And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples.”

Luke 19:29 “And it came to pass, when he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples.”

※Only the Gospel of John has no record of these places.

 

 

2. The ass and the colt.

 

Matthew 21:2-7 “2...ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her... 7and brought the ass, and the colt...”

※Only the Gospel of Matthew records that both the ass and the colt were brought.

Mark 11:2-7 “2...ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat... 7And they bring the colt unto Jesus...”

Luke 19:30-35 “30...ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat... 35And they brought him to Jesus...”

John 12:14-15 “14And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon...”

※The Gospel of John records it this way, and it does not record the process of bringing the colt.

 

 

3. The prophecy of the prophet Zechariah that the King would come riding on a colt (Zech. 9:9).

 

Matthew 21:4-5 “4Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, 5Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

※The Gospels of Mark and Luke have no record of this.

John 12:15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.”

 

 

4. The garments of the people and the branches of trees, or palm branches.

 

Matthew 21:8 “And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way.”

Mark 11:8 “And many spread their garments upon the way; and others branches, which they had cut from the fields.”

Luke 19:36 “And as he went, they spread their garments in the way.”

※The Gospel of Luke has no record of branches.

John 12:13 “took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him...”

※Only the Gospel of John records them as “branches of the palm trees,” while it has no record of the people’s garments.

 

 

5. Since the feast, that is, the Passover, was near, many people from various places had gathered in Jerusalem. However, only the Gospel of John records why such a great multitude gathered to see Jesus.

 

John 12:9-11, 17-18 “9The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was there: and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death; 11because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus. 17The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness. 18For this cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he had done this sign.”

 

 

6. The multitudes who cried, “Hosanna.”

 

Matthew 21:9 “And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying...”

Mark 11:9 “And they that went before, and they that followed, cried...”

Luke 19:37-38 “37And as he was now drawing nigh, even at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen; 38saying...”

※Only the Gospel of Luke records them as “the whole multitude of the disciples.”

John 12:12-13 “12On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out...”

 

 

7. What the multitudes cried out.

 

Matthew 21:9 “...Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

Mark 11:9-10 “9...Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10Blessed is the kingdom that cometh, the kingdom of our father David: Hosanna in the highest.”

Luke 19:38 “Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”

John 12:13 “...Hosanna: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

 

 

8. The following content recorded in the Gospel of Luke is not found in the other Gospels.

 

Luke 19:39-44 “39And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples. 40And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out. 41And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, 42saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.”

 

 

9. The content concerning Jesus cursing the fig tree.

 

※In the Gospel of Mark, this event is recorded as taking place “before Jesus cleansed the temple,” but in the Gospel of Matthew, it is recorded as taking place “after Jesus cleansed the temple.”

 

Mark 11:11-15 “11And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. 12And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered. 13And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs. 14And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it. 15And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple...”

 

Matthew 21 (12-)17-22 “12And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple... 17And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there. 18Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered. 19And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away. 20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away?...”

※The Gospels of Luke and John have no record of Jesus cursing the fig tree.

※This will be explained in more detail in the final point, number 13, below.

 

 

10. The content concerning Jesus cleansing the temple.

 

Matthew 21:12-13 “12And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; 13and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.”

Mark 11:15-17 “15And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; 16and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple. 17And he taught, and said unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made it a den of robbers.”

Luke 19:45-46 “45And he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold, 46saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.”

※The Gospel of John has no record of this. Instead, John 2:13-17 records that Jesus had done something like this earlier as well.

 

 

11. The following content recorded in the Gospel of Matthew is not found in the other Gospels. (Luke 19:39-40 may seem similar, but it is a different event.)

 

Matthew 21:14-16 “14And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple: and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation, 16and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?”

 

 

12. The chief priests took counsel to destroy Jesus.

 

※The Gospel of Matthew has no record of this.

Mark 11:18 “And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, for all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.”

Luke 19:47-48 “47And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him: 48and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.”

※The Gospel of John has no record of this. Compare John 12:10.

 

 

13. When it was evening, Jesus went out of the city.

 

※In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and, after cleansing the temple, went out of the city to Bethany when evening came. Then, the next morning, He was hungry and sought fruit from the fig tree and cursed it. This is the order in which Matthew records the events. The fig tree He cursed is also recorded as having withered immediately.

 

※But in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and looked round about upon all things, but since it was already evening, He went out to Bethany. Then, the next morning, when He was hungry, He sought fruit from the fig tree and cursed it. After that, He entered the temple in Jerusalem and cleansed the temple. In other words, there is a difference in date from what is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. The fig tree He cursed is also recorded as having withered on the following day.

 

Matthew 21 (12-)17-22 “12And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves; 13and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers... 17And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there. 18Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered. 19And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away. 20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away?...”

 

Mark 11:11-22 “11And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. 12And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered. 13And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves... 15And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves... 17And he taught, and said unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made it a den of robbers... 19And every evening he went forth out of the city. 20And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. 21And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. 22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.”

※The Gospels of Luke and John have no record of this.

 

 

When we read the Gospels, we may sometimes think, “Why are they not exactly the same? Why are they different like this?” But rather than thinking that way, we must receive each Gospel just as it is written—Matthew records it this way, and Mark records it that way. We must also know that, because the Gospels are different from one another, they have a mutually complementary aspect.

 

For example, Matthew and Mark simply record “branches,” but John records “branches of the palm trees.” Therefore, we can know that the people at that time welcomed Jesus with palm branches. This is why we today commemorate that day by the name “Palm Sunday.”

 

Thus, through the four Gospels, God surely testifies of “Jesus alone” through their different perspectives and emphases. Therefore, it is right for us also to focus only on this.

 

John 5:39 “Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me.”

 

Amen.