Discrepancies in Jesus' Life? Talk fit for hell? Be Perfect?

Religion

How do animals and women fit in? Why do evil and viruses exist?

How big was the flood and why doesn't God intervene?

What is the Trinity to other religions? Where does Jesus fit in? Does purgatory exist?

No further word from God? Only containing God's words? What about the errors?

Can it have different meanings? May a bible story be legend? Help from outside the bible...?

How dangerous is wealth? What about forgiving the unrepentant? Can euthanasia be Christian? What makes a church a sect?

Is Jesus the one to follow? Did Jesus rise bodily? Jesus and the Holy Spirit? How is Christ coming back? A synthesis of traditions?

Am I a real disciple of Jesus? What do I do when I am tempted? Why should Christians suffer? Why are other Christians a problem?

Creationism? Evolution? Other populations than Adam's? Who was Cain's Wife? Does God feel threatened? Was he harsh on Pharoah?

No images? No art? Show no mercy?

24. Matthew and Luke - Jesus' genealogy.  Is it difficult to understand the discrepancies between Matthew and Luke, in their listings of Jesus' ancestral line?

This question addresses a common issue that non-believers have with the bible - the contradictions concerning the life of Christ.

Bewes begins by explaining the key differences between the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  He argues that Matthew works forwards with a greater emphasis on the lineage of Joseph, whereas Luke works backwards with a stronger focus on Mary's 6.line.  Luke goes as far back as Adam, whereas Matthew stops at Abraham.  Bewes lists a few reasons for this.

Firstly, he argues that Jesus was a real human man - and not a Greek mythological figure.  Secondly, Jesus is the Messiah - the King of the Jews, hence why Matthew references David.  Thirdly, Luke goes as far back as Adam, because Jesus is the world saviour of the human race.  Lastly, Luke's line ends in God himself, as Jesus is publicly introduced as the Son of God.

I don't have much to say about this except, that I agree with it.  The answer is simple and logical enough and I think that Bewes explains it all.  Having researched the scripture myself, Bewes' argument checks out.

26. Irreconcilable infancy stories? It seems impossible to make Matthew's and Luke's stories of Jesus' birth and infancy fit with one another, especially at Luke 2:39.

And yet another issue with the contradictions of Jesus' life.  But as Bewes argues that "patient study reveals an integrated picture."

Bewes argues that confusion emerges at 2:39, where "it reads as though the holy returned immediately to Nazareth and not to Bethlehem, where - Matthew tells us - there took place the visit of the Magi, followed by the flight to Egypt and eventual return."

Bewes argues that this isn't the problem, as the advantage of having four Gospel writers is that they fill in the gaps for each other.  "The problem is that chronologically, Luke appears to assume an immediate return to Nazareth."

Bewes solves this problem by clarifying that Luke was writing religiously and not chronologically.  In his Gospel, he strives to demonstrate Jesus' life in how it takes place in relation to the law of God.

Richard Bewes' clarification is helpful, as I think that unwitting readers, like me, would not initially make this distinction.  They would just assume that the Gospels are writing chronologically.  But having once again researched the scripture, Bewes' argument holds water.  Matthew 2:19-22 reads

"After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said 'Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead.'

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel."

Luke 2:39 reads:

"when Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth."

Now that I know about this distinction, Bewes' argument makes sense.  Furthermore, my Christian friend Naomi argues that the Gospels don't contradict each other.  They just emphasise different aspects of Christ's life.

28.  Matthew 5:21,22 - Talk fit for hell? I don't understand Christ's words that someone who says 'You Fool' will be in danger of the fire of hell.  Isn't that very extreme?

The scripture that Bewes is addressing discusses "three escalating grades of offence, and the liabilities they incur.  He's contrasting the rigid external observance of God's law with the spirit of the law and its inner meaning.  So adultery in the heart is still adultery."

Bewes continues to explain that while the old teaches that "murder is wrong," Jesus takes it deeper.  Obviously, you wouldn't be dragged before the courts if you called someone a fool or if you were angry with your brother, these are just illustrations of what could be happening internally in a person.  This is what worries God.

If we call somebody a fool in jest or without any hateful attentions, then this isn't a problem.  The problem arises if you curse them while you have hate in your heart.  To quote Bewes, you would be wrong in "pronouncing someone else a cursed fool, in the sense of wanting to see them dead." Bewes argues that Jesus was establishing a principle.  Simply having murderous intentions is morally incorrect.  "Murder in the heart is murder in the sight of God."

Again, I would agree with this.  Naomi has told me that simply having immoral feelings is akin to breaking a commandment or law, although she used "lust," as an example, rather than murder.  However, I would argue that it is obviously easier to punish and police physical murder, rather than thoughts and feelings.

29. Matthew 5:48 'Be Perfect?' I feel very far indeed from being 'perfect,' as Jesus commands us to be.  It seems impossible.  What did he mean?

Bewes argues that Jesus means exactly this.  He wants us to strive for perfection, even if that aim is unrealistic.  Bewes acknowledges that despite how Christians make perfection their aim, they know that they will never achieve it.  What I think is most important is the aim for perfection.  Although good intentions aren't the be all and end all, I think it is important to have some type of goal, which would inspire you to be a good person.  I think this is what aiming for perfection can provide.  It can offer a moral framework to follow.

But as always, I could be wrong.  So criticise me in the comments below, join the conversation.  Start a debate.  Just keep it mature.  Keep it respectful.  Keep it intelligent.