MATTHEW 16:16—Why does Peter’s confession here differ from that recorded in Mark and Luke? PROBLEM: Peter’s confession of Christ in Caesarea Philippi is stated differently in the three Gospels: Matthew: “You are the Christ, the…
MATTHEW 13:45—Was Mary a perpetual virgin, or did she have other children after Jesus’ virgin birth? PROBLEM: Roman Catholicism teaches that Mary was a perpetual virgin, that is, that she never had sexual intercourse, even…
MATTHEW 13:34—Did Jesus always speak in parables or not? PROBLEM: This text states distinctly that “without a parable He [Jesus] did not speak to them.” However, Jesus gave His whole Sermon on the Mount (Matt.…
MATTHEW 13:31–32—Did Jesus make a mistake when referring to the mustard seed as the smallest of all seeds? PROBLEM 1: Jesus said that the mustard seed was “the least of all the seeds.” However, today…
MATTHEW 13:12—Is God unfair in giving to those who have? PROBLEM: God is presented in the Bible as fair and evenhanded (Rom. 2:11; Gen. 18:25). Jesus, as God incarnate, is set up as the perfect…
MATTHEW 12:40 (cf. John 19:14)—If Jesus was crucified on Friday, how could He have been in the grave three days and nights? PROBLEM: Christ rose on Sunday (Matt. 28:1), but He stated that He would…
MATTHEW 12:1–5—Did Jesus’ disciples break the Jewish Sabbath law? PROBLEM: Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt.…
MATTHEW 11:28–30—Is Jesus’ yoke easy or hard? PROBLEM: Jesus said here, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” However, Hebrews declares that “whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom…
MATTHEW 11:14—Didn’t Jesus say John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnated? PROBLEM: Jesus refers here to John the Baptist as “Elijah who is to come” (cf. Matt. 17:12; Mark 9:11–13). But, since Elijah had died many…
MATTHEW 11:12—How can God’s sovereign and peaceful kingdom be entered by force? PROBLEM: Paul declared that the kingdom (rule) of God is “peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17). However, Matthew says “the…