Problem: Mark merely refers to the temptation of Jesus (Mk. 1:12-13), but doesn’t give specifics. John omits the event altogether. Luke and Matthew both describe the temptation, yet they contain the conversation in a different order:
Problem: Luke records that Jesus survived in the desert for 40 days without eating. Is this physically possible?
Problem: Matthew and Luke both give different names for the father of Shealtiel.
Matthew: Jeconiah, Shealtiel, then Zerubbabel (Mt. 1:12).
Luke: Neri, Shealtiel, then Zerubbabel (Lk. 3:27).
Is this a contradiction?
Problem: Matthew and Luke both write a genealogy for Jesus, but these are different from one another. Once Matthew and Luke reach David, they diverge from one another rapidly. Matthew has 26 names and Luke has 41 names (between David and Jesus).
Problem: Jesus was baptized, but normally, only sinners were baptized by John. Why was Jesus baptized? Was he secretly sinful and needed to repent of this before he could start his ministry?
Problem: Both Matthew 1 and Luke 3 contain genealogies of Jesus. But there is one problem – Why they are different?
Problem: Jesus has a different grandfather here in Luke 3:23 (Heli) than He does in Matthew 1:16 (Jacob). Which one is the right one?
Problem: In Luke 1:32-33, the angel Gabriel told Mary, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” In other words, Gabriel told her that Jesus was the Messiah. However, in Luke 2:50, we read that Jesus’ parents “did not understand the statement which He had made to them” about being the son of God. How could they not know this, if an angel had appeared to them?
Problem: The gospels fail to give many details from the period of Jesus’ birth to his adult years at the age of 30 (Lk. 3:23). Here, Luke gives a unique detail from when he was twelve years old. Why are more details not given?
Problem: Jesus was fully God (Mk. 2:5-7; Jn. 1:1; 5:18; 8:58; 10:30; 20:28-29). An essential attribute of deity is omniscience (or being “all-knowing”). However, in this passage, we read, “The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom” (Lk. 2:40).
Problem: Simeon said of Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—35 and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (Lk. 2:34-35). Catholic interpreters argue that the mention of being pierced to the soul refers to Mary contributing to the redemption of humanity.
Problem: Luke writes that Mary “was engaged” to Joseph when she gave birth to Jesus (Lk. 2:5). Yet Matthew records that Joseph “took Mary as his wife” when he got the dream from the angel. Which is true?