We see that the Messiah Jesus repeated the same teachings to his disciples several times, and did so intentionally.
Why did Jesus repeat his teachings?
To anchor spiritual truths: the Messiah Jesus often used the same images and parables to engrave his messages in the hearts of his listeners. For example, the of the sower is told in (Matthew 13.3-9, Mark 4.3-9 and Luke 8.5-8).
Because the disciples were slow to understand: the Messiah Jesus sometimes reproaches them for their lack of discernment, as when he says: “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8.17-21) or “Have I been with you so long, and you have not known me, Philip?” (John 14.9).
To adapt the message to different contexts: Some parables appear in slightly different forms depending on the Gospels. For example, the of the “faithful servant” is told in Matthew 24.45-51 and Luke 12.42-48, with nuances specific to each context.
To underline the importance of the message: the Messiah Jesus repeats crucial teachings several times, such as the announcement of his passion:
“The Son of Man must suffer many things…” (Matthew 16.21)
“The Son of Man will be delivered up…” (Matthew 17.22-23)
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem…” (Matthew 20.17-19)
Concrete examples of repetition
The announcements of his death and resurrection: repeated three times in the Synoptic Gospels (see Mark 8.31, Mark 9.31, Mark 10.33-34).
The parables on vigilance: such as that of the faithful servant (Matthew 24.45-51, Luke 12.42-48), or that of the ten virgins (Matthew 25.1-13).
The teachings on the Kingdom of God: illustrated by recurring images such as the seed (Mark 4.26-29), the leaven (Matthew 13.33) or the net (Matthew 13.47-50).
The calls to faith and prayer: repeated in several contexts, such as “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7.7, Luke 11.9).
In summary, repetition in the Messiah Jesus is a divine pedagogy. It reflects his concern to train his disciples with patience, giving them time to understand, to absorb and to live out his teachings.
It is important to note that some accounts reported by Matthew, for example, may present different elements of the same theme addressed by Mark or Luke. This does not mean that the author altered the text to support his argument, nor that there are contradictions. In reality, each evangelist reports distinct events and emphasizes particular aspects according to his development or the audience he is addressing.
When the Messiah Jesus repeated a teaching, he could vary its wording or examples according to his listeners. Thus, the differences observed between the Gospels reflect a pedagogy concerned with adapting to the needs and understanding of each person, without altering the substance of the message conveyed (John 21.25 and John 20.30).