There
are many who take inconsistencies in the Bible, primarily of wording
or writing style, and try to confuse Christians and those seeking to
know more about the Christ faith. I felt let to look at
inconsistencies to see if they, in fact, have significant information
to disprove that Jesus is the Son of God. This time, the focus is
going to be on the inconsistencies in reporting that the oil was put
on Jesus. Since many Bible verses will mention he and him in the same
verse, I will tell you who it is referring to, if it’s not clear by
the wording. Additionally, I will put my analysis and/or my opinions
of these passages in brackets, so that those who go to
https://BiblicalProof.blogspot.com
can
read this proof for themselves.
First
of all, I have to find out what the inconsistencies are in these
passages. I will use the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible
and will put the passages together to look for inconsistencies and to
see if they are significant.
Matthew
26:6-13 says: And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the
leper, a
woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant
oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table.
But
when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this
waste? “For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and
given to the poor.” But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to
them, “Why
do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. “For
you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
“For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My
burial. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached
in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a
memorial to her.”
Mark
14:3-9 says: And
being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the
table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of
spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
But
there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why
was this fragrant oil wasted? “For it might have been sold for more
than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they
criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, “Let
her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
“For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you
may do them good, but Me you do not have always. “She has done what
she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the
whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial
to her.”
Luke
7:36-50 says: Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.
And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And
behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that
Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an
alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him
weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped
them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed
them with the fragrant oil.
Now when
the Pharisee who had invited Him saw
this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet,
would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him,
for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to Him, “Simon,
I have something to say to you.”
So
he said, “Teacher, say it.”
“There
was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred
denarii and the other fifty. “And when they had nothing with which
to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of
them will love him more?” Simon
answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And
He [Jesus] said to him [Simon], “You
have rightly judged.”
Then
He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do
you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My
feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with
the hair of her head. “You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not
ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. “You did not
anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with
fragrant oil. “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many,
are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the
same loves little.”
Then
He said to her, “Your
sins are forgiven.”
And
those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who
is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your
faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
John
12:1-11 says: Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to
Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from
the dead.There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus
was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then
Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet
of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled
with the fragrance of the oil.
But
one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray
Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred
denairii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared
for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and
he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let
her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. “For the
poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
Now
a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not
for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He
had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put
Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews
went away and believed in Jesus.
First
off, Matthew 26:7 and Mark 14:3 say a woman brought a flask of
expensive fragrant oil and put it on Jesus’ head. This seems pretty
consistent, right??? Well, Luke 7:37-38 and John 12:3 both say that
the woman anointed Jesus’ feet with the fragrant oil and wiped them
with the hairs of her head.
Are
these inconsistencies significant enough to Disprove that Jesus Is
God’s Son?
[Well,
she either poured the oil on Jesus’ head or on His feet, but does
it really matter which she poured it on? In my opinion, it is truly
insignificant! Although there are minor inconsistencies in wording,
it basically says the same thing. You will find out if you watch this
brief video by J. Warner Wallace, a L.A. Cold-Case Detective, who
tells that witnesses rarely report things exactly the same way.
Were
the Gospels Written by Eye Witnesses?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siOcvLyKuEk
(3
minutes 27 seconds) In my opinion, this video is really worth
watching, because it clarifies so many things about the
inconsistencies in the Gospel recordings.]
Additionally,
does it matter that in Luke 7:37-38 it says that she kissed Jesus’
feet, but the other three Gospels don’t. [Again, I feel these
inconsistencies are very minor and in no way disprove that Jesus Is
God’s Son. If you’re not convinced, watch the brief video that I
just mentioned and hear how witnesses rarely report things exactly
the same.]
The
next inconsistency I see is that Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3 say that
Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper. Luke 7:36 says
that Jesus was in a Pharisee's house and in verse 40 Jesus addresses
Simon. Additionally, John 12:1-2 says that they were in Bethany,
where Lazarus had been raised from the dead by Jesus and there they
made Jesus a super and Martha served.
[I
have to admit that I read lots of different internet Biblical
resources on this. Some said that this was two different times that
Jesus was anointed by oil from a woman. Some said that each of the
Gospels were talking about the same anointing. The website that I
mention below includes lots of different points of view on this
matter, but I especially like the point of view mentioned, although I
have no idea which is correct. The main point of this is-does it
really matter whose house it was and if the woman was Mary, the
sister of Lazarus or if there were two different ladies? In my
opinion, they are insignificant inconsistencies. All four gospels
attest to a woman anointing Jesus with oil. It doesn’t really
matter whose house they were in or if there were two different
anointings of Jesus, or whether the lady mentioned in the Gospel of
John is Mary, the sister of Lazarus or not. None of these minor
details invalidates that Jesus was anointed by costly fragrant oil by
a woman and that it most definitely doesn’t disprove that Jesus Is
God’s Son!]
Bible
Hub at https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/26-6.htm
“Matthew
26:6-13.
When
Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper —
That
is, who had been a leper, but, as seems highly probable, had been
healed by Jesus. At least, it is not to be thought that he was now a
leper, for in that case he would not have been suffered [allowed] to
live in a town, nor would any Jew have come to an entertainment in
his house. There came a
woman —
Probably
Mary, the sister of Lazarus, for it is highly probable, as Dr.
Doddridge has shown, that the anointing of Jesus here mentioned, is
the same with that recorded John
12:1.
Having
an alabaster box, &c.
— Being deeply affected with the many instances that Christ had
given her and her sister Martha of his love, and especially by his
late mercy in recovering her dear brother Lazarus from the grave, she
was therefore solicitous to give some uncommon token of her gratitude
to so excellent a person. She
brake the box, says
Mark, and poured the precious
ointment, or
rich balsam, on
his head.”
Now
that we know it doesn’t really matter if the oil was put on Jesus’
feet or His head, or if there were two different times Jesus was
anointed with oil from one woman or two, we need to examine the next
inconsistencies in these passages to see if they are significant. We
will analyze how the disciples reacted to the oil being put on Jesus
and His reaction to this.
Matthew
26:8-13 says: But
when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this
waste? “For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and
given to the poor.” But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to
them, “Why
do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. “For
you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
“For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My
burial. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached
in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a
memorial to her.”
Mark
14:4-9 says: But there were some who were indignant among themselves,
and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? “For it might have
been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.”
And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, “Let
her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
“For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you
may do them good, but Me you do not have always. “She has done what
she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the
whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial
to her.”
Luke
7:39-50 says: Now when
the Pharisee who had invited Him saw
this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet,
would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him,
for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to Him, “Simon,
I have something to say to you.”
So
he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who
had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty.
“And
when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them
both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon
answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And
He [Jesus] said to him [Simon], “You
have rightly judged.”
Then
He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do
you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My
feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with
the hair of her head. “You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not
ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. “You did not
anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with
fragrant oil. “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many,
are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the
same loves little.”
Then
He said to her, “Your
sins are forgiven.”
And
those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who
is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your
faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
John
12:4-11says: But
one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray
Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred
denairii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared
for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and
he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let
her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. “For the
poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
Now
a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not
for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He
had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put
Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews
went away and believed in Jesus.
Well,
Matthew 26:8-9 and Mark 14:4-5 talk about the disciples/ some being
indignant that the expensive fragrant oil was put on Jesus when it
could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Luke 7:39
doesn’t mention this, but Simon is upset with Jesus, because the
woman who anointed Him with oil was a sinner. The impression is that
she was a woman of ill-repute, but it doesn’t exactly say that.
Does it matter if she was? [In my opinion, it doesn’t really
matter, although it explains why Jesus told the parable in Luke
7:41-43 about a creditor who forgave the debts of two who owed him
money, one a small amount of money and the other a large amount of
money.]
Additionally,
does it matter that Luke is the only Gospel that records Jesus
sharing this parable about the creditor? [In my opinion, I don’t
think it matters. Remember, some of the disciples add the details
that they think are significant such as the parable, others put basic
facts, and others include elaborate details.] John 12:4-6
specifically notes that Judas Iscariot was upset that the expensive
oil was used to anoint Jesus, when it could have been sold for the
poor, but he [Judas] really wanted the money for himself.
[In
my opinion, in that Matthew and Mark didn’t mention Judas Iscariot
the way the Gospel of John did, but talked about the same things, is
more corroboration that this event happened and there is nothing
significant in this to determine otherwis
The
next portion that we need to evaluate is whether the inconsistencies
are significant related to Jesus’ reactions to those who objected
to the woman anointing Him with the costly fragrant oil.
Matthew
26:10-13 says: But
when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why
do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. “For
you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.
“For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My
burial. “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached
in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a
memorial to her.”
Mark
14:6-9 says: But
Jesus said, “Let
her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
“For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you
may do them good, but Me you do not have always. “”She has done
what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the
whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial
to her.”
Luke
7:44-50 says: But Jesus said, “Let
her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.
“For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you
may do them good, but Me you do not have always. “She has done what
she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
“Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the
whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial
to her.”
John
12:7-11 says: But Jesus said, “Let
her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. “For the
poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
Now
a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not
for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He
had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put
Lazarus to death also,
because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in
Jesus.
[In
analyzing all four Gospels, they all pretty much say the same thing.
Jesus told them that she had anointed Him to prepare Him for His
burial. The Gospel of John adds additional details, that since
Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead was in the house at the
meal with Jesus, many people came to see Lazarus and came to believe
that Jesus Is truly the Son of God, because who else could raise
someone who had been dead for several days? The chief priests didn’t
like this and plotted to not only kill Jesus, but Lazarus, as well. I
could tell this, because it said about plotting to put Lazarus to
death also,
which implies in addition to Jesus. It appeared to me that the
chief priests were hoping to stop people from believing in Jesus, and
figured that Lazarus’ being alive was living testimony that Jesus
had performed a significant miracle in raising Lazarus from the
dead.]
[None
of the inconsistencies in reporting these Biblical passages was
significant enough to infer that Jesus wasn’t anointed with
oil by a woman and most definitely, it doesn’t disprove that Jesus
Is God’s Son! The thing that I think is most significant in all of
this is that every one of the four Gospels said that Jesus told them
to not be hard on the woman who anointed Him, because she did it to
prepare Him for His death. This is extremely significant in that who,
but the Son of God, would be able to know and foretell His own death!
]
[Don’t
let others confuse you due to inconsistencies in the Gospels.
Generally, they are insignificant, are related to some sharing more
details, some fewer, or some that have interviewed more first hand
witnesses and included their information. Remember John 3:16-19
says: “For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who
believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God. “and this is the condemnation, that the
light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were evil. Don’t
let people confuse you about Christ and lead you into the darkness.
Check things out thoroughly, so you will follow the Light that only
Jesus Christ can provide! ]
See
note on John
12:3.
When
the disciples saw it, they had indignation —
Several
of them were angry, though none so much so as Judas, saying,
To what purpose is this waste? —
Such
a quantity of this rich balsam poured out to so little purpose. For
this ointment might have been sold for much —
The
disciples being sensible that their Master was not delighted with
luxuries of any kind, were grieved, and murmured
against
the woman, says Mark, for throwing away so much money idly, as they
imagined. But they expressed themselves so as to cast a tacit
reflection on Jesus himself. Jesus
said, Why trouble ye the woman?
— Why
do ye grieve and distress the good woman, of whose piety and
friendship we have had so long an experience? For
she hath wrought a good work upon me —
Hath
given a great proof of her faith, gratitude, and love; and therefore
deserves to be commended rather than to be blamed. For with respect
to what has been now suggested, in favour of the poor,
ye have them always with you —
By
the wise and gracious providence of God, it does, and always will
happen, that objects needing your compassion and charity shall always
be with you, that you may always have opportunities of relieving
their wants, and so of laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
But
me ye have not always —
I
am soon to leave you, and to be placed beyond the reach of your
kindness. In
that she hath poured this ointment on my body —
On
my feet as well as my head; see John
12:4.
She
did it for my burial —
As
it were, for the embalming of my body. Indeed this was not her
design; but our Lord puts this construction upon it, to confirm
thereby what he had before said to his disciples concerning his
approaching death. Verily,
wheresoever this gospel
— That
is, this part of the gospel history; shall
be preached, this that this woman hath done shall be told, &c.
— To make them further sensible of their folly in blaming her for
this expression of her love to him, he assured them that however much
she might be condemned by them, she should be highly celebrated for
this action through the world, and live in the memory of all ages.
