Contradictions in Scripture: The Reviling of the Thieves.
There is a common idea in Biblical scholarship that the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the so-called “synoptic” gospels, share a similar source. Those who postulate this will often point to Mark as the “original gospel,” no doubt due to its brevity, assuming that the later books would have added to the source material. Still further back, some surmise, Mark had its origins in a still more ancient text, often called the “Q” manuscript. It is amazing to me that these scholars will put more faith in this “Q” manuscript, a document that no one has ever seen and for whose existence not a shred of evidence can be found, than they will in the actual gospels that are testified to by hundreds of ancient manuscripts!
Yet this teaching is accepted by many, and one who wishes to study the Word must face up to it and decide what to do with ideas such as this. The similarity of these gospels cannot be denied. Yet from the time I first heard this argument it has always struck me what careless scholars the writers of these gospels must have been if they were as incapable of following their source document as they appear to be. For although the similarity between these gospels cannot be denied, the profound differences in things that seem to be basic fact leave one marveling that such errors could be allowed to slip by on the part of one ingenious enough to write these books in the first place. Perhaps no better example of this can be given than that of the reviling of the thieves on the cross.
First let us examine the details given of the thieves on the cross in each of the four gospel records. I realize that no one claims that John is synoptic, but since this author believes that all four of the gospels are inspired and thus must be dealt with on an equal plane, we will consider this gospel as well.
1. In Matthew, we read that after the Lord was crucified, His clothes were divided among the soldiers, and the accusation “This is Jesus the King of the Jews” was placed above His cross, “Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.” (Matthew 27:38) Their behavior is described in verse 44, “Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.” (In other words, the same thing as said in verses 40-43.) No further conversation with the Lord Jesus on the part of the robbers is recorded.
2. In Mark, we read that after the Lord was crucified, His clothes were divided among the soldiers, and the accusation “The King of the Jews” was placed above His cross, “With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.” (Mark 15:27) Mark goes on to say, “So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’” (Mark 15:28) Their behavior is described in the latter part of verse 32, “Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.” No further conversation with the Lord Jesus on the part of the robbers is recorded.
3. In Luke, we read that as the Lord was being led to be crucified, “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.” (Luke 23:32) After this the dividing of the garments, the mocking of the rulers, and the placement of the inscription, “This is the King of the Jews” is mentioned. Then finally in verses 39-41 we read, “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If you are the Christ, save Yourself and us.’ But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’” Then in verses 42-43 we read of a further conversation between this criminal and the Lord: “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise.’”
4. In John, we read of the Lord being led to Golgotha, “Where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center.” The behavior of the others is not described, nor is any further conversation with the Lord Jesus on the part of the others recorded.
Thus we see that, although the accounts of the three synoptic gospels are similar, there are obvious differences.
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