The New Testament

From beginning to end, the Old Testament exposes man’s rebellious heart. The first Adam has proven himself to be entirely a reprobate. Israel, unto whom were committed the oracles of God, brought forth nothing but wild grapes (Rom. 3:22Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. (Romans 3:2); Isa. 5:22And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. (Isaiah 5:2)). What more could God do for man? Why, he sends forth His Son! “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Gal. 4:4-64But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:4‑6)). Oh what love! Oh what grace!
We joy in out God, and we sing of that love,
So sovereign and free which did His heart move!
When lost out condition, all ruined, undone,
He saw with compassion, and spared not His Son!
The Gospels
The four Gospels present something of a dilemma to man. As a philosophical text, he is disappointed. As an historic account, much is omitted. Select events are recorded, sometimes in one Gospel, sometimes in all four. We find nothing in the Gospels to satisfy mere curiosity. Chronology is dispensed with in Matthew and Luke but is generally followed in Mark and, where applicable, in John. Whereas Matthew and John were apostles, eyewitnesses to the life and resurrection of the Lord, God also chose two writers, Mark and Luke, who were not.
A great deal of effort has been wasted in attempting to reconcile the so-called discrepancies between the Gospels when no reconciliation is required. If we accept that God is the author of each and that He has chosen to present the glory of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, according to four distinct and special viewpoints, we find that there are no difficulties at all.