NT scholars recognize the need to distinguish the Evangelists' purposes in editing and rewording their Gospel sources from the purpose of the original events or sayings of Jesus. You are invited to engage the interpretations offered below for several Matthean alterations and edits of Mark.
(1) "And a voice came from Heaven: "YOU ARE my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased (Mark 1:11)."
"And a voice from Heaven said: "THIS IS my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased Matthew 3:17)."
In the Marcan original, the heavenly voice addresses Jesus alone in what seems like a private vision. But Matthew changes "You are" to "This is" so that the heavenly voice's message addresses a broader audience in what seems like a shared vision. John 1:32 agrees with Matthew that John the Baptist also saw the Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus. Some might see Mark's version as the original and use it to help explain John's later doubts about Jesus (Matthew 11:12, 6 // Luke 7:20, 23). Others might see Matthew and John's version not as a later development of this tradition, but as the more historically accurate version. What do you think?
(2) "And the Spirit immediately CAST HIM OUT [Greek: "ekballo"l into the wilderness (Mark 1:12)."
"Then Jesus WAS LED into the wilderness...(Matthew 4:1 // Luke 4:1)."
Mark's verb "ekballo" ("cast out" or "drive") is a powerful verb, the same verb used for Jesus' exorcisms! It's use jmplies Jesus' initial resistance as He tries to process the significance of the heavenly voice's message. Its use also implies that Jesus is still in an altered state of consciousness (a trance?) as He enters the wilderness for what turns out to be a 40 day fasting vigil. Matthew and Luke (using Q) substitute the less descriptive verb "led" to remove the implication of Jesus' temporary loss of self-control.
(1) "And a voice came from Heaven: "YOU ARE my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased (Mark 1:11)."
"And a voice from Heaven said: "THIS IS my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased Matthew 3:17)."
In the Marcan original, the heavenly voice addresses Jesus alone in what seems like a private vision. But Matthew changes "You are" to "This is" so that the heavenly voice's message addresses a broader audience in what seems like a shared vision. John 1:32 agrees with Matthew that John the Baptist also saw the Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus. Some might see Mark's version as the original and use it to help explain John's later doubts about Jesus (Matthew 11:12, 6 // Luke 7:20, 23). Others might see Matthew and John's version not as a later development of this tradition, but as the more historically accurate version. What do you think?
(2) "And the Spirit immediately CAST HIM OUT [Greek: "ekballo"l into the wilderness (Mark 1:12)."
"Then Jesus WAS LED into the wilderness...(Matthew 4:1 // Luke 4:1)."
Mark's verb "ekballo" ("cast out" or "drive") is a powerful verb, the same verb used for Jesus' exorcisms! It's use jmplies Jesus' initial resistance as He tries to process the significance of the heavenly voice's message. Its use also implies that Jesus is still in an altered state of consciousness (a trance?) as He enters the wilderness for what turns out to be a 40 day fasting vigil. Matthew and Luke (using Q) substitute the less descriptive verb "led" to remove the implication of Jesus' temporary loss of self-control.