How are the endings of Matthew and Mark similar?

Answer 1

A:Mark's Gospel was the first New Testament gospel to be written, but originally ended at verse 16:8, with the young man telling the women that Jesus was risen and they fled in terror, telling no one. Matthew's Gospel was largely based on Mark's Gospel, but is more spiritual and contains a longer ending with appearances of the risen Jesus.

Mark's Gospel says the stone was already moved when the women arrived, and that they went inside the tomb and were met by a young man in white. Matthew's Gospel says when the women arrived, the stone was still in place, but there was an earthquake and an angel came down and moved the stone, telling the women that Jesus was risen.

Some time in the second century, the 'Long Ending' was added to Mark (there was also at one stage a 'Short Ending'). This added appearances of the risen Jesus and more or less harmonises it with the endings of Matthew and Luke.

In Mark 16:12, Jesus appeared to two of them as they walked. This could be the two women of Matthew's Gospel or the two men on the road to Emmaeus in Luke.

In Mark 16:14, Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples at a meal. This is generally considered to be in the upper room, as in Luke, but arguably could be a meal the disciples were having when Jesus appeared to them in the mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:16-17). Jesus then gave his parting instructions for the disciples to go forth and preach everywhere, just as he did in Matthew.