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Explain why the gospel authors at times differ from each other in their accounts.
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Because they are looking at things from various perspectives, they are speaking with a variety of different audiences, they are expecting their information to be used for separate purposes, they all are accomplishing the same goals using several different aspects.
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The authors differently from each other makes their account even more trustworthy. It shows the different perspectives on Jesus’ life and ministry. Matthew was a jewish tax collector writing to Jews. He focused on Jesus being the King of the Jews and the Son of David. Mark was a young missionary writing to Romans. He focused on Jesus being a servant of God and all people. Luke was a physician writing to a Greek audience. He focused Jesus being our Savior and a brilliant teacher. John was a fisherman writing to all people. He focused on Jesus being the Son of God and showed 7 miracles to prove that. If the Gospels all looked the same and had the same information, that would be less convincing to a non-believer as it would seem doctored. They are witness accounts, in a court case today witnesses have different perspectives in their accounts just like the Gospels.
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They each saw it from there position. No two people would ever have the exact same experience.
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The authors each wrote from a different perspective and with a different audience and purpose in mind. Matthew wrote from a Jewish perspective as one who saw the errors in his life and determined to proclaim to the Jewish world that Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. Mark wrote primarily to the Roman world to share Jesus as a servant. Luke wrote from a Gentile perspective to document Jesus’ miraculous life as a Savior for all. And John wrote as a beloved friend to show that Jesus was the Christ for all of humanity. Because of their different backgrounds, they interpreted the events of Jesus’ life in a different light. In order to convey their primary messages to their audiences, they focused on different aspects of His ministry or on different details of the events of His life.
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I think about my two girls and when they tell stories about the same thing. They both witnessed the same thing but because of their personalities, they picked up on different aspects. The writers of the gospels were the same way.