A Devotional Commentary on the Gospels, Arranged for Family Devotions, for Every Day in the Year

Can there be any account in the world so interesting to us as the history of our Lord and Savior, while he spent thirty-three years upon earth? There were people with him who heard his sayings and observed his actions. Four holy men, as you are aware, wrote accounts of his life. It might well be supposed that these histories would not contradict each other, for they were all true. But the writers not only wrote what they knew to be true-the Holy Spirit instructed them what to relate. They were inspired of God. When we read their writings, we read the words of God himself. With what reverence should we attend! As some of these four Evangelists related one event, and some related another, it is interesting to place their accounts together, endeavoring to observe, as well as we can, the order of time in which the events occurred. Such an arrangement is called a "Harmony of the gospels." We shall begin with the words of John, because he speaks of Jesus before he came into the world, even when he was with his Father in heaven. We shall find that the Son of God made the world. He did not appear in it as a man, until four thousand years had rolled away; but long before he came, he was promised by God, and described by the prophets, such as Moses, David, Isaiah, and many others-of whom Malachi was the last.