by Rob Lundberg
As you recall, this series started as a result of challenges someone threw in an email. This third response post in this series has to do with what was seen regarding the removal of the stone from the tomb of Jesus. This post is addressing the question, Are there any contradictions about what was seen at Jesus’ tomb regarding the stone?
In this entry, I will be giving us the real issue about what we can glean from what happened and demonstrate that there is really no contradictions.
As in the case with the previous two posts, I will be setting up the objection for a response.
Mattew’s gospel records for us that there was an earthquake and an angel rolled away the stone, and there were guards that were trembling watching this happen (28:2,3). Mark’s, Luke’s and John’s gospels record for us that the stone had already been rolled back (Mark 16:2-4; Luke 24:1-2). The only difference between John and the other two is that John uses language that the “stone had already been taken away” (20:1,2).
The question coming from my skeptical challenger is that since Mark, Luke and John record that the stone was already rolled away, and Matthew does not, there must be a problem with Matthew’s gospel. Is this true? Well let’s look at a viable response.Response to the Issue.
This is really not a problem. The only problem is found in the challenge’s lack of understanding of the fact that each of the writers of each gospel account have their personalities in their writing and had the freedom to record what the Spirit of God guided them to write. Again, the inspiration that came to the writers of Scripture was not 100% dynamic dictation.(1) The writers personalities were totally in tact.
This being said, we know that Mark, Luke and John all agree that the stone was already rolled away before the women got to the tomb. Remember they saw the stone rolled away as they were arriving at the tomb site. So, what’s the deal with Matthew, why does he not say the same thing?
Well, if you look at the passage first thing we see is that Matthew provides with WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STONE. There was an earthquake, “for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and rolled back the stone, and sat on it.”(2) Matthew is essentially giving us more information than the other two, which is usually an indicator of authenticity rather than being in-genuine.
If one is so inclined to challenge Matthew, a couple things should be remembered. The first is that Matthew is not bound to record the exact same things as the other gospel writers. He gives us more information and he jumps from the earthquake and trembling guards to the angel speaking to the women.(3) Writing with his mind totally in tact was supervised by the Holy Spirit, which brings me to the second point.
Second, we have a little enemy attestation in this same chapter(4). Where is this testimony from the enemy? Right in the same chapter,
11While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. (Matthew 28:11-15)
(2) Matt. 28:2; Usually when the presence of God shows up, and an angel is present, you see the earthquake occurring with the event. All through the Scripture whenever you see the presence of God, the earth is trembling.
(3) The is a problem for those who might want to argue for Markan priority. Matthew does not need Mark to write his gospel narrative.
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Rob is a blogger, writer and public speaker on a mission to equip the believer to think and articulate what they believe and to communicate the message of the gospel to a confused culture in a confused, chaotic, “brave new world.” He is available to come and speak to your church, college club, or group. Find out what people are saying.
If you would like to book Rob for a speaking event, you can do so by emailing him at roblundberg@ratiochristi.org If you have other questions about apologetics or doing apologetics, or if you are looking for apologetics resources, contact our ministry by email.
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