Problem: When a Canaanite woman came to Jesus pleading for help, he told her that he “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt. 15:24). When she persisted, he said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (v.26). He eventually healed her daughter, but why did he call her and her daughter “dogs”?
Can take a staff
(Mark 6:8) – “and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belt.”
Problem: Matthew records that the disciples shouldn’t acquire “a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff” (Mt. 10:9-10). Mark records, “[Jesus] instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt—but to wear sandals” (Mk. 6:8-9). Whereas Luke records that Jesus instructed, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece” (Lk. 9:3). The discrepancy can be seen in this way:
Problem: Matthew writes, “He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief” (Mt. 13:58). Did Jesus need people to believe in him in order for him to perform miracles?
Problem: There are differences in Jesus’ rejection between the Synoptic gospels. Matthew and Mark place this event in the middle of Jesus’ ministry, but Luke places it at the beginning. Moreover, Matthew and Mark state that Jesus left quietly (Mt. 13:58; Mk. 6:5), while Luke explains he was chased by a mob (Lk. 4:30). What should we make of these? Are they contradictions?
Problem: First of all, the Bible describes Jesus as God (John 1:1) who has, with the Father, “all authority in heaven and earth” (Matt. 28:18). However, on this occasion Jesus “could do no mighty work there” (v. 5). Why couldn’t He, if He is all powerful?
Daughter was dead
(Matthew 9:18) – “While He was saying these things to them, behold, there came a synagogue official, and bowed down before Him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.”
Gadarenes
(Matt. 8:28) – “And when He had come to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs; they were so exceedingly violent that no one could pass by that road.”
Two men
(Matt. 8:28) – “And when He had come to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs; they were so exceedingly violent that no one could pass by that road.” Continue reading →
Problem: Jesus said, “[The mustard seed] is smaller than all other seeds” (Mt. 13:32). However, scientifically, we know that the mustard seed is not the smallest seed. Did Jesus err in making this statement?