Problem: Jesus taught, “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him” (Lk. 12:10). What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Does this mean that a Christian can lose their salvation if they do this?
Problem: Jesus says that the last martyr was “Zechariah, the son of Berechiah” the prophet. However, Zechariah the prophet was never recorded to be martyred. Instead, another Zechariah of Jehoiada in 2 Chronicles 24:20-22 was the one who was martyred. For this reason, critics claim that Jesus was referring to the wrong Zechariah.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
“Conversation” means behaviour. Let your lifestyle do the talking for you. Your not wise because you say you are, your wise because others see wisdom in you. Your not a Christian because you say you are, you are a Christian if others see Christ in you. Let your good behaviour (life style) show godly wisdom.
Some critics assert a contradiction between Matthew and Luke by point out that some of the same teachings found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) are found in different contexts in Luke. For example, when Jesus offers the model prayer often known as the “Lord’s Prayer,” Matthew has Jesus teaching the multitude how to pray (Matt. 6:6-13). Luke records another instance (Luke 11:1-4), where the disciples ask Him to teach them to pray, which He does in much the same way He taught the crowd in Matthew. There is certainly no logical conflict here at all. Jesus can (and did) teach the same thing more than once.
CLAIM: Jesus told the lawyer that he should follow the Law and give to the poor in order to inherit eternal life. How does this harmonize with the ubiquitous NT teaching that salvation cannot be earned through the Law (Gal. 2:21; Eph. 2:8-9?
Problem: Here Jesus tells His disciples: “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see.” However, later He said to them, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Which one is right?
Problem: Luke says clearly that “they did not receive Him.” Yet, when Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, a great multitude flocked to meet Him (John 4:39–40).
Problem: In Luke 9:50, Jesus says that “he who is not against us is for us.” Yet in Luke 11:23 Jesus says that “He who is not with Me is against Me.” Which position is correct?
Six Days later
Matthew 17:1, “And six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves.”
Problem: Jesus said, “There are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God” (Lk. 9:27). Critics argue that Jesus was incompetent, and he believed that he would return before the disciples died. Peterists argue that this predicts Jesus’ hidden coming during the destruction of the Temple. Is this the case?
Cannot take a staff
Matthew 10:9-10, “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10 or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.”
Luke 9:3, “And He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.”
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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:
Did Jesus meet the demoniacs in Gerasene or Gaderenes?
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How many men came out to meet Jesus in Gerasene? Was it one or two?
CLAIM: Jesus said, “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet” (Lk. 7:45). If a woman kissed your feet, wouldn’t this stimulate a sexual response in some way? Critics argue that passages like this demonstrate that Jesus had a sexual relationship with this woman. Is this the case?