This collection of pages seeks to help the reader understand passages from the life of Jesus that are often considered difficult to understand and to do so in a way that is both faithful to Scripture and enlightening to the modern reader.
Difficult Passages Series — Matthew 5:20-48 for May 12
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? We find this section of the Sermon on the Mount difficult simply because the OT eye-for-an-eye justice comes more naturally to us. It appeals to our elementary sense of fairness. We resist Jesus’ efforts to raise our sights. In addition, we forget the audience. Matthew is...
Difficult Passages Series — Matt. 11:1-19 for 14 Apr. 2010
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? The primary difficulty in this passage is that we can’t quite accept that John who introduced Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:33,34), who recognized him while they were both in-utero (Lu. 1:41), who said, “He must increase and I must decrease,” would be able to ask...
Difficult Passages Series — Matt. 15:21-28 for Mar. 24, 2010
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? In one of our recent group discussions, the question was asked, “Why does Jesus sometimes seem to be harsh in his answers?” It is a good question for us to consider together. Of course, it needs to be answered in regard to each specific context in...
Difficult Passages Series — Matt. 27:5; Acts 1:18 for Mar. 31, 2010
1. Why are these passages listed among difficult passages? During the Easter season it might be helpful for us to consider a couple Bible difficulties that arise in passages that we usually read in this season. One of those questions concerns the demise of Judas Iscariot. There seem to be differing accounts of the manner...
Difficult Passages Series — Matt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? In each of these two parallel accounts, Jesus speaks words from Psalm 22:1; words which sound very despairing and if taken at face value speak of a break in the fellowship of the Trinity. How are we to understand what Jesus is saying? How do...
Difficult Passages Series — Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10; John 20:1 for Apr. 7, 2010
1. Why are these passages listed among difficult passages? The issue in these passages is to answer clearly, who was at Jesus’ tomb early on that first Easter day? Each of the four gospels gives a slightly different list summarized in the table below. Reference Who is listed as present Helps in understanding Matt. 28:1...
Difficult Passages Series — Mark 2:26
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? The passage is difficult because the name of the priest who gave David the bread as recorded in 1 Sam. 21:1-6 is Ahimelech, who is listed there as Abiathar’s father. 2. How do we deal with the difficulties in this passage? First in cases like this...
Difficult Passages Series — Mark 9:1; Matt. 16:29, Lu. 9:27 for May 5
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? In each of these three parallel accounts, Jesus has just finished speaking about his coming in glory with his angels in power to reward his followers. The most natural interpretation of this sequence of verses would seem to be that Jesus expected his return to happen...
Difficult Passages Series — Mark 13:30 and Mt. 24:34 for Jan. 13, 2010
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? This saying about “this generation” is among the difficult passages because it seems in context, especially in Mark, to refer to Jesus’ second coming. 2. How do we deal with the difficulties in this passage? Some have attempted to solve this dilemma by making “generation” mean...
Difficult Passages Series — Mark 14:61,62 Jan. 20, 2010
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? The passage has raised questions of text as Luke for example records the words as “Yes, it is as you say” (Lk 22:70). There is also the question of what the saying about seeing him coming in the clouds means. 2. How do we deal with...
Difficult Passages Series: Luke 18:1-8 The unjust judge
Why might this be considered a difficult passage? On a quick read, we are taken back by Jesus' choice of human character in this parable. The logic seems to go like this. Just as the unjust judge answered the repeated request of the widow, so your heavenly Father will answer your repeated requests! Perhaps we...
Difficult Passages Series — John 6:53,54 for Jan 6, 2010
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? Jesus says these words so bluntly that people have always tried to take them literally. Roman Catholic tradition has so interpreted them and coupled them with their doctrine of transubstantiation and then applied them to receiving the elements of the Eucharist. This view is aided...
Difficult Passages Series — John 20:23 for Apr. 21, 2010
1. Why is this passage listed among difficult passages? The difficulty in this passage is this. Exactly what power is Jesus conferring to his disciples? We are very influenced by the discussion in Mark 2:1-12. There the teachers of the law repeat the accepted wisdom that God alone can forgive sins. Jesus’ words and actions...