Contradictions
Matthew
New Testament · questions that cite Matthew.
Showing 121–144 of 178
These marks echo where critical scholarship tends to land on each question — not GEBible’s own ruling.
Seen as a contradiction
Genuinely disputed
Seen as reconciled
Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 26:64 and Luke 22:70 give Jesus the famously evasive 'thou hast said' / 'ye say that I am' — an answer that can be parsed as a yes, a no, or a 'that's…
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: All four gospels agree Peter denied Jesus three times, but they disagree on the cast list.
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 27:5 has Judas return the silver, throw it down in the temple, and go hang himself — a tidy suicide-by-hanging.
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 27:6-7 has the chief priests buy the potter's field with the silver Judas threw back at them, because as blood money it can't go in the temple treasury.
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 27:12-14 and Mark 15:3-5 have Jesus go silent in front of Pilate — refusing to answer the chief priests, refusing to answer a word, until Pilate himsel…
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Leans toward reconciliation
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward reconciliation
The tension: Luke 23:11 has Herod Antipas and his soldiers dress Jesus in a gorgeous robe during the side-trip to Herod's quarters that only Luke records, before sending hi…
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Leans toward reconciliation
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward reconciliation
The tension: Matthew 27:28 says the soldiers put a *scarlet* robe (*chlamyda kokkinēn*) on Jesus.
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: John 19:17 has Jesus carry his own cross to Golgotha — explicitly, *bastazōn heautō ton stauron*.
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Genuinely disputed among scholars
Scholarly consensus: Genuinely disputed among scholars
The tension: Matthew 27:34 says they offered Jesus vinegar mingled with gall.
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Leans toward reconciliation
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward reconciliation
The tension: All four gospels report the *titulus* nailed to Jesus' cross — but they don't agree on the wording.
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: Mark 15:32 says both of those crucified with Jesus reviled him.
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: Mark 15:25 puts the crucifixion explicitly at the third hour — about 9 a.m.
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 27:46-50 (following Mark 15:34-37) has Jesus die crying out the cry of dereliction — *Eli Eli lama sabachthani*, 'my God my God why hast thou forsaken…
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: Mark 15:39 and Matthew 27:54 both have the centurion at the cross declare 'Truly this was the Son of God.' Luke 23:47 has the centurion glorify God and say 'Ce…
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 27:55, Mark 15:40, and Luke 23:49 all describe the women watching the crucifixion *from afar* (*apo makrothen* in the Greek).
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew, Mark, and Luke all give Joseph of Arimathea sole credit for taking Jesus down, wrapping the body in linen, and laying it in the tomb.
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Leans toward reconciliation
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward reconciliation
The tension: John 20:1 has Mary Magdalene arrive at the tomb 'early, when it was yet dark' — before sunrise.
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 28:2 has an angel of the Lord descend from heaven, roll back the stone, and sit on it — a single angelic figure.
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: Luke 24:2-4 and John 20:1-2 have the women (or Mary Magdalene) discover the body is missing *before* they encounter any angelic figure — they enter, find the b…
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 28:8 has the women run from the tomb 'with fear and great joy' to bring the disciples word.
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 28:9 has Mary and the other Mary meet the risen Jesus, grab his feet, and worship him — no confusion, instant recognition.
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 28:10 and Mark 16:7 have Jesus (or his angelic messenger) tell the disciples to head north to Galilee — that's where they'll see him.
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Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Widely regarded as a genuine contradiction
The tension: Matthew 28:9 says the first appearance was to the two Marys together.
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Leans toward a genuine contradiction
Scholarly consensus: Leans toward a genuine contradiction
The tension: John 20:24 says Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the group, so with Judas already dead (Matthew 27:5) the count is ten.
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