Without Excuse: Apologetics Blog

 Matthew 21:19–21 NIV Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. Mark 11:19–20 NIV When evening came, Jesus and his disciples[a] went out of the city. 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” Matthew 21:19–21indicates the fig tree Jesus cursed withered immediately. However, Mark 11:19–20 would suggest the fig tree withered some time later. So, which is it? It takes a careful reading of the sequ...

Matt 27:9 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, Matt 27:10 “and gave them for the potter’s field, as the LORD directed me.” Here, Matthew seems to mistakenly attribute the story of the purchase of the potters’ field to Jeremiah rather than Zechariah. How is it possible that Matthew made such a glaring mistake? In dealing with apparent contradictions, it's been my experience that there's always plauseable explanations to be found, even if it's impossible to know the definitive answer. So, let's examine Matthew 27:9–10. Upon careful inspection, Matthew 27:9 quotes Zechariah 11:12-13: Zec 11:12 Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. Zec 11:3 And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set...