Posts Tagged ‘Matthew’
Is the antecedent of “it” “church” or “rock” in Matthew 16:19?
Question: A little help, please. Where Matthew records; “….and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” What is the “it” referring to? I have heard some say it was the “church.” Others, that it was the “rock,” Christ. According to your studies of the Greek definition, what is the “it”? Answer: In Greek, a…
Read MoreHow could Jesus be the son of man, the son of David, and the son of God?
Question: Why did people call Jesus as Son of David and Son of Man when he was neither born to any man or to anyone in the Davidic line? Were they fooling or flattering him, or is it true? If it is true can you give concrete answers? Who is the Son of David? Jesus…
Read MoreMy research says that Matthew mistranslated “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”
Question: I am sorry I am going to have to agree with the guy who questioned you on “Could Jesus have said “My God, my God, for this I was kept?”. Yeshua, the Son of God, AKA Jesus Christos, Jesus Christ spoke Aramaic and while Matthew was a Greek scholar, he merely recorded the words of…
Read MoreWhat does Matthew 13:12 mean?
Question: In Matthew 13:12 it says, “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” What does this mean? Answer: “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”…
Read MoreDoes Matthew 5:28 apply to other sins?
Question: Matthew 5:28 says “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Does this apply to other things? If I had a desire to smoke and drink, but I actually don’t do it, does it means that I had…
Read MoreWhy did Peter follow Jesus in Matthew 26:28?
Question: Why did Peter follow Jesus in Matthew 26:28? Is your understanding that the “reason” that he followed Jesus was only because he wanted to see what was going to happen? Not to stand up for Jesus? Perhaps I should have explained that I am working on a lesson for Sunday morning and the point that I want…
Read MoreCould you explain Matthew 21:44?
Question: In Matthew 21:44, I know that Jesus is talking to the chief priests and the Pharisees, but I am having trouble understanding this verse. “And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Is Jesus saying that whoever goes against him, since…
Read MoreThank you for the information on the two lineages of Jesus
Question: Thank you. A friend of mine has lost all of his faith and is now picking on the Bible for all of its inconsistencies. He has brought up the two lineages of Jesus as proof, and thanks to your sermon notes, plus a few other sources, I believe I may finally have an answer he…
Read MoreWhy does Mark have “Eloi” and Matthew have “Eli” for the same statement?
Question: I believe that Matthew’s account lists Jesus’s cry from the ancient texts when he wrote “Eli, Eli lama sabachthani”. This is not a quote from Psalm 22. The Hebrew in Psalm 22 is ‘azab, not sabachthani. I’ve seen some stretches that try to link sabachthani with ‘azab, but I believe it is a bit of…
Read MoreWas Matthew originally written in Hebrew or Aramaic?
Question: One of the problems I would have with your explanation is whether or not Matthew wrote the words in Greek or did he write the words in the original Aramaic. Most Bible scholars believe that Matthew wrote in Aramaic and while Mark’s words are almost identical, he too was a Jew who would have spoken a…
Read MoreWhy did it take 35-40 years to write the Gospels?
Question: What was the reason for John, Mark, Luke, and Matthew writing their gospels? Why did it take 35-40 years after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus to begin to write the gospels or the rest of the New Testament? Answer: As for the purpose of the gospel accounts, see “The Four Gospels.” As to…
Read MoreWhat does the Bible tell us about Matthew’s life?
Question: What was the life of Matthew in biblical days? Answer: “As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax collection office. He said to him, “Follow me.” He got up and followed him. It happened as he sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners…
Read MoreWhy does Jesus sound harsh in Matthew 10:34-36?
Question: Will you please explain why Jesus sounds harsh in Matthew 10:34-36? Answer: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. Yes, and…
Read MoreHow do you explain Matthew 24:27-31?
Question: Thanks for a great web site. You said… Too often, people mix the events from the destruction of Jerusalem with the events dealing with the end of the world. This leads people to believe they can predict the end of the world, even though Jesus clearly states that there will be no warning. You…
Read MoreWhy did Jesus ignore the Canaanite woman?
Question: In reference to Matthew 15:22-28, this passage talks about a woman who approaches Jesus asking for help for her daughter. It appears from what she says that she was quite aware of who He was by referring to Him as the Son of David. My question – Why did Jesus not initially answer her,…
Read MoreWho is the Queen of the South?
Question: Who is the Queen of the South? Answer: “The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42). This is a reference…
Read MoreDoes history record Herod killing the children?
Question: Regarding Herod killing the children, are there any other documents from other sources such as Roman or other ancient cultures documenting this event? Answer: “Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were…
Read MoreDid Matthew fabricate a prophecy to support his claim that Jesus was the Messiah?
Question: I have another question. It may seem like I am attacking Christianity with this one, but I’m not. I’m just very interested in studying the Bible and every now and then I come across an objection I need help answering. So here is the objection I found on another website: The fabrication of a…
Read MoreHow can birds be an example of God’s care when they can suffer from droughts and famines?
Question: I have been trying to figure out Matthew 6:25-34 for five years now without success, but came across your website, and am quite curious about your perspective. Of particular interest is verse 26. How does God actually feed the birds, and how does such have an application to Christians since we must work for a living? And,…
Read MoreCould you explain Matthew 24:30?
Question: I have a question about Matthew 24:30. (I believe it is about the second coming of Christ.) I have been doing some personal study and discussed it with a fellow brother. Basically, it refers to symbolic events similar to instances of God’s judgment on mankind or nations. Would like to get feedback from you…
Read MoreWho is the faithful and wise servant in Matthew 25:45-47?
Question: The King James Version says at Matthew 24:45-47, “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make…
Read MoreHow can you trust early Christian writers when you disagree with them on some topics?
Question: I appreciate and respect your willingness (and the willingness of your church) to so openly and staunchly defend your beliefs to the world. If anyone “has a ready answer,” it’s the folks at La Vista Church of Christ! You previously wrote: Allow me a moment to answer your last question. I find it amusing…
Read MoreUnderstanding Matthew 24
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The teachings of Jesus recorded in Matthew 24 are commonly misapplied by people in the denominational world. People want to know what will happen in the future. They don’t enjoy having secrets kept from them. This is true whether we are talking about our jobs lasting another year or about important…
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