{"id":471,"date":"2020-03-04T16:29:45","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T23:29:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/?p=471"},"modified":"2021-09-04T22:50:55","modified_gmt":"2021-09-05T04:50:55","slug":"credibility-of-matthew-pt-2-contradictions-of-matthew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/integritysyndicate.com\/credibility-of-matthew-pt-2-contradictions-of-matthew\/","title":{"rendered":"Credibility of Matthew Part 2: Contradictions of Matthew"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Examples of contradictions of Matthew against other gospel accounts are provided below. Many more discrepancies can be identified but this list is amended to include the most striking inconsistencies. Additional problematic passages are also summarized after contradictions.<\/p>\n
Contradiction # 1<\/u><\/p>\n
Two different genealogies including the father of Joseph and the son of David:<\/p>\n
\n Matthew 1:1-16 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n | \n 6<\/sup> and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon<\/strong> by the wife of Uriah, 7<\/sup> and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8<\/sup> and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9<\/sup> and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10<\/sup> and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11<\/sup> and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Luke 2:23-40 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 23<\/sup> Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli<\/strong>, 24<\/sup> the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, 25<\/sup> the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, 26<\/sup> the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27<\/sup> the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28<\/sup> the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29<\/sup> the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30<\/sup> the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31<\/sup> the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David<\/strong>,<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Contradiction #2<\/u><\/p>\n Would Jesus inherit David\u2019s throne?<\/p>\n (a) Yes. So said the angel (Luke 1:32).<\/p>\n (b) No, since he is a descendant of Jehoiakim (see Matthew 1:11, 1 Chronicles 3:16). And Jehoiakim was cursed by God so that none of his descendants can sit upon David\u2019s throne (Jeremiah 36:30).<\/p>\n Luke 1:32 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 32<\/sup> He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Matthew 1:11 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 11<\/sup> and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n 1 Chronicles 3:1 (ESV) <\/p>\n<\/td>\n The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son;<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Jeremiah 36:30 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 30<\/sup> Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Contradiction # 3<\/p>\n Was baby Jesus life threatened in Jerusalem?<\/p>\n (a) Yes, so Joseph fled with him to Egypt and stayed there until Herod died (Matthew 2:13-23).<\/p>\n (b) The family fled nowhere. They calmly presented the child at the Jerusalem temple according to the Jewish customs and returned to Galilee (Luke 2:21-40).<\/p>\n Matthew 2:13-23 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 13<\/sup> Now when they had departed [the wise men], behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, \u201cRise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.\u201d 14<\/sup> And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15<\/sup> and remained there until the death of Herod<\/strong>. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, \u201cOut of Egypt I called my son.\u201d <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Luke 2:21-40 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 21<\/sup> And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22<\/sup> And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord<\/strong> 23<\/sup> (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, \u201cEvery male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord\u201d) 24<\/sup> and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, \u201ca pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.\u201d 25<\/sup> Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26<\/sup> And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27<\/sup> And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28<\/sup> he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, Contradiction # 4<\/u><\/p>\n Did Herod think that Jesus was John the Baptist?<\/p>\n (a) Yes (Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:16).<\/p>\n (b) No (Luke 9:9)<\/p>\n Matthew 14:2 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 2<\/sup> and he said to his servants, \u201cThis is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mark 6:16 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 16<\/sup> But when Herod heard of it, he said, \u201cJohn, whom I beheaded, has been raised.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Luke 9:7-9 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 7<\/sup> Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8<\/sup> by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9<\/sup> Herod said, \u201cJohn I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?\u201d And he sought to see him.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Contradiction # 5<\/u><\/p>\n Did Herod want to kill John the Baptist?<\/p>\n (a) Yes (Matthew 14:5).<\/p>\n (b) No. It was Herodias, the wife of Herod who wanted to kill him. But Herod knew that he was a righteous man and kept him safe (Mark 6:20). <\/p>\n Matthew 14:5 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 5<\/sup> And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mark 6:20 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 20<\/sup> for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Contradiction # 6<\/u><\/p>\n When Jesus met Jairus was Jairus\u2019s daughter already dead?<\/p>\n (a) Yes. Matthew 9:18 quotes him as saying, \u201cMy daughter has just died\u201d<\/p>\n (b) No. Mark 5:23 quotes him as saying, \u201cMy little daughter is at the point of death\u201d <\/p>\n Matthew 9:18 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 18<\/sup> While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, \u201cMy daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mark 5:23 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 23<\/sup> and implored him earnestly, saying, \u201cMy little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Contradiction # 7<\/u><\/p>\n The Gospels say that Jesus cursed a fig tree. Did the tree wither at once?<\/p>\n (a) Yes. (Matthew 21:19).<\/p>\n (b) No. It withered overnight (Mark 11:20). <\/p>\n Matthew 21:19 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 19<\/sup> And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, \u201cMay no fruit ever come from you again!\u201d And the fig tree withered at once.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mark 11:20-21 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 20<\/sup> As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21<\/sup> And Peter remembered and said to him, \u201cRabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Luke 9:3 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 3<\/sup> And he said to them, \u201cTake nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Contradiction # 8<\/u><\/p>\n Who was the tenth disciple of Jesus in the list of twelve?<\/p>\n (a) Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19).<\/p>\n (b) Judas son of James is the corresponding name in Luke\u2019s gospel (Luke 6:12-16).<\/p>\n Matthew 10:1-4 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1<\/sup> And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2<\/sup> The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3<\/sup> Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus<\/strong>; 4<\/sup> Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mark 3:13-19 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 13<\/sup> And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14<\/sup> And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15<\/sup> and have authority to cast out demons. 16<\/sup> He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); 17<\/sup> James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); 18<\/sup> Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus<\/strong>, and Simon the Zealot, 19<\/sup> and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Luke 6:12-16 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 12<\/sup> In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13<\/sup> And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14<\/sup> Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15<\/sup> and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16<\/sup> and Judas the son of James<\/strong>, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Contradiction # 9<\/u><\/p>\n Jesus saw a man sitting at the tax collector\u2019s office and called him to be his disciple. What was his name?<\/p>\n (a) Matthew (Matthew 9:9).<\/p>\n (b) Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27). <\/p>\n Matthew 9:9 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 9<\/sup> As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, \u201cFollow me.\u201d And he rose and followed him.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Mark 2:14 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 14<\/sup> And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, \u201cFollow me.\u201d And he rose and followed him.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n <\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Luke 5:27-28 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27<\/sup> After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, \u201cFollow me.\u201d 28<\/sup> And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Contradiction # 10<\/u><\/p>\n When Jesus entered Capernaum, he healed the slave of a centurion. Did the centurion come personally to request Jesus for this?<\/p>\n (a) Yes (Matthew 8:5).<\/p>\n (b) No. He sent some elders of the Jews and his friends (Luke 7:3, 6). <\/p>\n Matthew 8:5-7 (ESV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n |