Q Source, Mark, Matthew (M), and Luke (L)
THE SAYINGS IN Q
(according to Lk; significant differences from Mt noted in [ ])
And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.” (Lk 4:5-6)
Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. (Lk 6:20b) [“poor in spirit” Mt 5:3]
[Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:10)]
I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who isleast in the kingdom of God is greater than he. (Lk 7:28)
Leave the dead to bury the dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God. (Lk 9:60) [Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” vv 61-62, no // in Mt]
Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ (Lk 10:9-11)
Father, hallowed be your name.
Thy kingdom come. (Lk 11:2)
[Thy will be done (Mt 6:10)]
And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? . . . But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Lk 11:18,20).
Instead, seek his kingdom, [seek first his kingdom and his righ- teousness (Mt 6:33)] and these things shall be yours as well. [Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Lk 12:31-32)]
To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened. (Lk 13:20-21)
There you will weep and gnash your teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out. And men will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at tablein the kingdom of God. (Lk 13:28-29)
The law and the prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one enters it violently. (Lk 16:16) [From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. (Mt 11:12-13)]
[But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither enter yourselves, nor allow those who would enter to go in. (Mt 23:13)] Compare Lk 11:52, where Lk’s version is directed against lawyers and says they take away “the key of knowledge.”
You are those who have continued with me in my trials; and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Lk 22:28-30)
THE SAYINGS IN MARK
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand ; repent, and believe in the gospel.” (1:14-15)
And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven.” (4:11-12)
The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come. (4:26-29)
With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. (4:30-32)
Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power. (9:1)
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. (9:47) [v. 45 uses the phrase “enter life” in a way that appears to be equivalent to “entering the kingdom.”]
And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such truly belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (10:13-15)
How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is [for those who trust in riches (some mss)] to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel [aramaic=rope] to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”(10:23) [The disciples respond in v. 26, “Then who can be saved?” apparently equating “entering the kingdom” with salvation.]
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! Hosanna in the highest! (11:10)
And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (12:34)
Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God [Mt 26:29 – “in my Father’s kingdom”]. (14:25)
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himselflooking for the kingdom of God. . . (15:43)
THE SAYINGS IN MATTHEW
(from M, with significant alternations of Mark designated by *)
And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people. (4:23)
Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (5:19-20)
Not every one who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (7:21)
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues andpreaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and infirmity. (9:35)
*When anyone hears the word of the kingdom [Mk 4:14 merely says “the word”] and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. (13:19)
The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field . . . the good seed means the sons of the kingdom . . . . The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers . . . . Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. . . . (13:24,38,41,43)
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. (13:44)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (13:45-46)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of very kind . . . . (13:47)
Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. (13:52)
I will give you (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (16:19)
*Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (16:28)
Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (18:3-4)
Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. (18:23)
For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it. (19:12)
*An expansion of the Markan saying about how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom: Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (19:28) [cf. v 29 where this is summed up by the phrase “inherit eternal life.”]
For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. (20:1)
*Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom [Mark “glory” (10:37)]. (20:21)
Following the story of the two sons: “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” (21:31)
The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son. (22:2) [Compare Lk 14:16-24 and the story of the banquet. This is possibly Q material, but only Mt uses the phrase Kingdom of God.]
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come. (24:14)
Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. (25:1)
For it (i.e., the kingdom of God) will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property. (25:14) [this seems roughly parallel to Lk 19:12-27, the story of the nobleman]
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, “Come, O blessed of my Father,inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. (25:34) [note v 31 where the setting is “when the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne,” and v 46 where “entering the kingdom” is equated with going “into eternal life.”]
THE SAYINGS IN LUKE
(from L, with significant alterations of Mk designated by *)
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end. (1:32-33)
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. (8:1) [cf. Mt 9:35, a possible parallel]
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of Godand to heal. (9:1-2)
When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing. (9:11)
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (9:62)
Fear not, little flock, for it is; your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (12:32)
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, `Lo, here it is!’ or `There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you (or “within you”). (17:20-21) Luke goes on to include Jesus’ sayings about the Parousia and how it will be delayed, but finally come.
*Truly, I say to you, there is no man who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive manifold more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life. (18:29-30) [Mk 10:19 has “for my sake and for the gospel”]
As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said there, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive a kingdom and then return . . . . When he returned, having received the kingdom . . . . (19:11-12,15)
*So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. (21:31) [Mk 13:29 has you will know that “he is near.”]
I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God . (22:15-16)
*For I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. (22:18) [Mk 14:25 has “until I drink it new in the kingdom of God”]
And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”