This page gives a list of the passages which are only found in one of the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark or Luke).

Passages unique to Matthew’s Gospel

Birth narrative

Genealogy (1:2-17)

Birth of Jesus and Joseph’s dream (1:18-25)

Visit of magi (2:1-12)

Flight to Egypt, Herod killing infants, and return to Nazareth (2:13-23)

John objecting to Jesus being baptised (3:14-15)

Miracles

Two blind men healed (9:27-31)

Peter walking on sea (14:28-31)

Coin found in mouth of fish for temple tax (17:24-27)

Fulfilment claims

Ministry in Galilee fulfilling prediction of Isaiah (4:13-16)

Healing fulfilling Isaiah’s prediction of servant (12:18-21)

Lack of understanding of parables fulfilling Isaiah (13:14-15)

King coming on donkey fulfilling Zechariah (21:5)

Parables

Wheat and weeds (13:24-30), and interpretation (13:36-43)

Hidden treasure and pearl (13:44-45)

The net (13:47-50)

Trained scribe like a householder (13:51-52)

The unmerciful servant (18:23-35)

Labourers in the vineyard (20:1-16)

The two sons (21:28-32)

Marriage of king's son, and man with no wedding garment (22:1-14)

Wise and foolish virgins (25:1-13)

The talents (25:14-30) (similar to parable of pounds in Lk 19:11-27)

The sheep and the goats (25:31-46)

Jesus' Teaching

The sermon on the Mount (ch 5-7) - (some is parallelled in Luke ch 6)

Disciples not to go to Gentiles but to lost sheep of Israel (10:5-8)

"Come to me all you who labour ..." (11:28-30)

Profaning Sabbath, greater than temple (12:5-7)

Peter the rock, keys to kingdom of heaven (16:17-19)

Rebuking brother, binding on earth, two or three agreeing and promise of presence (18:16-20)

Eunuchs for sake of kingdom (19:10-12)

Kingdom taken from you and given to others (21:43)

Woes to Pharisees (ch 23)

Incidents during passion and resurrection

Judas receiving and returning thirty pieces of silver, and his suicide (26:15, 27:3-10)

Pilate's wife's dream (27:19)

Pilate washing his hands (27:24-25)

Saints raised from tombs (27:52-53)

Sanhedrin requesting guards to watch tomb (27:62-64)

Earthquake at resurrection, angel appearing to guards (28:2-4)

Women worshipping risen Jesus (28:9-10)

Bribing of guards, claim that disciples stole body (28:11-15)

Command to baptise and great commission (28:16-20)

Passages unique to Mark’s Gospel

Over 90% of Mark is included in Matthew, and about 50% is included in Luke, so there are only very few unique passages in Mark’s Gospel.

Introduction

The beginning of the good news (1:1)

Jesus being with the wild beasts during temptations (1:13)

Miracles

Healing of deaf and mute man in Decapolis (7:31-37)

Healing of blind man in Bethsaida in two stages (8:22-26)

Conversation with father of demonised boy throwing himself in to fire (9:21-24)

Boy being like a corpse and people thinking he was dead (9:26-27)

This kind of demon can only come out through prayer (9:29)

Other incidents during ministry

Calling disciples to mountain to preach, and cast out demons (3:13-15)

Jesus’ family trying to restrain him (3:20-21)

Eye-witness details

Jesus being asleep on a cushion during storm (4:38)

Jesus saying, “Peace, Be still” to the storm (4:39)

Details about strength of Gerasene demoniac (5:4-5)

Jesus being aware that power had gone from him when healing woman with bleeding (5:30)

Departure to Tyre, and entering a house, not wanting anyone to know he was there (7:24)

Jesus being indignant when disciples sent children away (10:14)

Parables

Parable of seed growing secretly (4:26-29)

Analogy of man going on journey and leaving doorkeeper to be on watch (13:34)

Teaching and comments

Sabbath made for man, not man for the Sabbath, so Son of Man is lord of Sabbath (2:27)

James and John being given the name “Boanerges", meaning "sons of Thunder” (3:17)

Everyone salted with fire. Salt losing its saltiness - be at peace (9:48-49)

Blessings include persecutions for those who give up everything (10:30)

Scribe’s reply to Jesus about importance of loving God and neighbour (12:32-34)

Incidents during passion and resurrection

The naked young man running away (14:51-52)

Pilate asking whether Jesus was already dead (15:44)

Question about who will roll away the stone (16:3)

Disciples afraid and not telling anyone (16:8b)

Passages unique to Luke's Gospel

The majority of the unique passages are found in the following three sections: the Birth Narratives (ch 1-2), the "Travel Narrative" (ch 9-19), and the Resurrection appearances (ch 24)

Introduction and birth narratives

Dedication to Theophilus (1:1-4)

Prediction of John's birth (1:5-25)

Prediction of Jesus's birth (1:26-38)

Mary visits Elizabeth (1:39-45)

Song of Mary (Magnificat) (1:46-56)

Birth and naming of John (1:57-66)

Song of Zechariah (1:67-80)

Angels appear to shepherds (2:8-20)

Circumcision and dedication (2:21-24)

Simeon's song and prophecy (2:25-35)

Anna's thanksgiving (2:36-38)

Return to Nazareth and Jesus being found in temple (2:39-52)

Dating of John's ministry (3:1-2)

Genealogy traced from Adam (3:23-38)

John's instructions to special groups (3:10-14)

Miracles

Miraculous catch of fish (5:1-11)

Raising of widow of Nain's son (7:11-17)

Healing of woman with spirit of infirmity (13:10-17)

Healing of man with dropsy (14:1-6)

Healing of ten lepers (17:11-19)

Encounters with individuals

Woman anoints Jesus's feet, two debtors (7:36-50)

Mary and Martha (10:38-42)

Zacchaeus (19:1-10)

Other incidents during ministry

Claiming fulfilment of Isaiah in synagogue (4:17-21)

Women who helped Jesus (8:1-3)

Rejection by Samaritans (9:51-56)

Mission and return of seventy (10:1-12, 17-20)

Lament over Jerusalem (19:39-44)

Summary of days in Jerusalem (21:37-38)

Parables

Good Samaritan (10:25-37)

Friend at midnight (11:5-8)

Barren fig tree (13:6-9)

Invitation to banquet, and places of honour (14:7-14)

Lost coin (15:8-10)

Prodigal son (15:11-32)

Unjust steward (16:1-9)

Rich man and Lazarus (16:19-31)

Unjust judge (18:1-8)

Pharisee and tax-collector (18:9-14)

Parable of the pounds (19:11-27) (similar to parable of talents, in Mk 25:13-30)

Teaching and comments

Proverb: physician heal yourself (4:23)

Faith of widow and of Namaan (4:25-30)

The woes (6:24-26)

Conversation with Moses and Elijah about his departure at transfiguration (9:31-32)

Second objection to following - to say farewell (9:61-62)

True blessedness (11:27-28)

True cleansing (11:37-41)

Repentance or destruction (13:1-5)

Who are in the kingdom? (13:22-30)

That fox Herod (13:31-33)

Two examples of counting cost (14:28-33)

Covetous hypocrisy of Pharisees (16:14-15)

Worthless slaves (17:7-10)

Kingdom in midst of you (17:20-21)

Example of judgement on Sodom, Lot’s wife (17:28-32)

Warning at end of Olivet discourse (21:34-36)

Eating Passover before suffering (22:15-16)

Incidents during passion and resurrection

The two swords (22:35-38)

Accused of forbidding paying tax to Caesar, Pilate’s first declaration of innocence (23:2,4-5)

Jesus before Herod (23:6-12)

Pilate’s second declaration of innocence (23:13-16)

Daughters of Jerusalem weeping (23:27-31)

Two criminals on cross, one rebukes, one repents (23:39-43)

"Father, into your hand I commit my spirit" (23:46)

Women preparing spices, and resting on Sabbath (23:56)

Centurion’s declaration of innocence (34:47-48)

Apostles not believing women’s report of resurrection (24:10-11)

The road to Emmaus, appearance to disciples, and teaching on fulfilment (24:13-49)

Ascension (24:50-53)