Only Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called Synoptic Gospels because they present Christ from His human side, while John presents Him as God.
Les Feldick teaches that Matthew, Mark, and Luke deal primarily with Christ's humanity, while John's Gospel deals with His deity. That is why the temptations and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane appear in the Synoptics but not in John. John stands apart because it keeps its focus on the fact that Christ is God.
Matthew 1:1 — Matthew opens with the royal genealogy of Jesus as the son of David and Abraham, establishing His role as King.
Luke 19:10 — Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost, emphasizing His humanity.
John 1:1 — John opens by identifying the Word as God, showing John's focus on Christ's deity.
The term 'synoptic' itself is not found in Scripture; it is a label used by Bible students. The Bible itself, however, reveals the different emphases of the four Gospels. Matthew opens with 'The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham' (Matthew 1:1), presenting Him as the promised King. Mark shows a servant-Christ, as Jesus said, 'For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many' (Mark 10:45). Luke highlights His humanity: 'For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost' (Luke 19:10). John begins with deity: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God' (John 1:1). These differing emphases are why the first three are grouped together as the Synoptic Gospels.
Les Feldick draws a clear line between the first three Gospels and John. He says Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called the Synoptic Gospels because they deal primarily with Christ's humanity. Matthew presents Him as the King, Mark as the Servant, and Luke as the Son of Man. John's Gospel is set apart because it deals with Christ as God, as the Son of God. This explains why the temptations and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane appear in Matthew, Mark, and Luke but not in John: those experiences touched His human nature, not His deity. Les also notes that while the Synoptics say Jesus prayed to the Father, John's Gospel presents Him speaking to the Father as God, because deity does not need to pray to God. He emphasizes that John is 'looking only from the fact that he's God' and that we should never lose sight of that.
Les Feldick teaches that Matthew depicts Christ as the King, so his Gospel opens with the royal genealogy. Mark depicts Him as the Servant, and Les points to foot-washing as indicative of His servitude. Luke depicts Him as the Son of Man, with a genealogy that goes back to Adam. These are all human-side portraits, which is why these three Gospels are grouped together as the Synoptics.
Les says the temptations are recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke but not in John because they had to do with His humanity. The agony in the Garden, including sweating drops of blood, appears in all three Synoptics but is absent from John, because that too was part of His human suffering. John keeps the focus on His deity.
Les points out that in the Synoptic Gospels it is correct to say Jesus prayed to the Father. In John's Gospel, however, even though the King James translators used 'prayed,' the Greek actually indicates He spoke to the Father. As God, He did not need to pray to God; He simply spoke to Him.
Matthew uses a royal genealogy to introduce Jesus as the son of David and Abraham. Mark emphasizes Jesus' service, even to the point of giving His life as a ransom for many. Luke presents Jesus as the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost. John opens not with a human genealogy but with the Word who is God. The Bible therefore supports the distinction Les makes between the human-side Gospels and John's deity-side Gospel.
Why Adam's Sin Condemned You — Romans 5 Explained
He can't understand, neither can he know them. Why? Because they are spiritually discerned or understood. And so we have to be real patient. I think that's one of the attributes God has given me when I deal with unbelievers. I'm patient. I don't care if it takes three years for them to come to the place of understanding the gospel.
Synoptic Gospels Focus on Christ's Humanity
Les defines the Synoptic Gospels as Matthew, Mark, and Luke, saying they deal primarily with Christ's humanity, while John deals with His deity, and explains why temptations and Gethsemane are missing from John.
Jesus Prays in the Synoptics vs. Speaks in John
Les explains that in the Synoptic Gospels Jesus prays to the Father, but in John, as God, He speaks to the Father rather than praying.
The Temptations and Gethsemane Reflect His Humanity
Les shows that the temptations and His agony in the Garden are recorded in all three Synoptics because they concern His human side, and are omitted in John because John emphasizes His deity.
Luke: The Son of Man
Les distinguishes Luke's portrait of Christ as the Son of Man from John's portrait of Christ as the Son of God.
The Four Gospel Portraits
Les lists the traditional portraits: Matthew shows the King, Mark the Servant, Luke the Son of Man, and John the Son of God.
Luke's Genealogy Goes to Adam
Les notes Luke's genealogy goes back to Adam because Luke presents Christ as the Son of Man, tying Him to the first man.
Matthew Presents the King
Les says Matthew depicts Christ as the King, which is why His genealogy must establish His royal family line.
Matthew 1:1: The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
This verse establishes Matthew's kingly portrait of Jesus, tracing His royal lineage.
Mark 10:45: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
This verse shows Mark's emphasis on Jesus as the servant who came to serve.
Luke 19:10: For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
This verse supports Luke's presentation of Jesus as the Son of Man, highlighting His humanity.
John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This opening verse reveals John's unique focus on Christ's deity.
Because the Synoptic Gospels — Matthew, Mark, and Luke — work together to present Christ's humanity, while John's Gospel presents His deity. Les Feldick says John is set apart even from the three because there we are dealing with Christ as God.
Les teaches that the temptations primarily dealt with Christ's humanity, so they are recorded in the three Synoptic Gospels and omitted from John, which keeps its focus on His deity.
Matthew. Les says Matthew depicts Christ as the King, which is why his Gospel begins with the royal genealogy. In order to be a king, Jesus had to come through the royal family line.
Les says that even in the King James translation, John uses the word 'prayed,' but the Greek actually indicates He spoke to the Father rather than prayed. As God, He did not need to pray to God.
Watch the Teaching: Why Adam's Sin Condemned You — Romans 5 Explained