-C H Spurgeon
Have we ever wondered why different Gospel writers wrote an experience differently in the Bible? Say for Example - Anointing Jesus - In one Gospel it says Jesus was Anointed at the Feet in other He was Anointed at the head.
Jesus entered Jerusalem on A Donkey or on a Colt?
In the beginning God created Heaven and the Earth, Why should then in some translations it is said as Heavens and the Earth?
The Spirit of the Lord hovered upon the waters? Genesis 1:2 NIV
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
The Bible for many years has come with a lot of controversies and contradictions. It is in this way because of the limitations of the human knowledge and thinking.
Say for Example the Anointing of Jesus itself.
Matthew 26:6-13
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Precious Ointment
Mark 14:3-9
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
3 While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the leper, and reclining at the table, there came a woman with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume of pure nard; and she broke the vial and poured it over His head. 4 But some were indignantly remarking to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5 For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they were scolding her. 6 But Jesus said,“Let her alone; why do you bother her? She has done a good deed to Me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. 9 Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
Luke 7:36-50
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Now as we could see Matthew and Mark had a different opinion about the incident when compared to Luke. In this instance the point to be noted is that, How are we to interpret this event? The incident itself gives us clues as to how we as humans view different things in life. When this woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
They looked at the outer appearance - Laws, Sinfulness, Punishment as the major things in life. Sine they always were thinking about these things when they saw this women they started questioning themselves saying -
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Second the Disciples way of looking at the things: Costly - Why Waste?
The disciples were indignant - But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”
The disciples way of thinking was all about the money, proper utilization of money, their concern was about the usage than the true intention of the incident. They were ignorant about the presence of the Lord - Jesus Christ and questioned "Why this waste?"
In their view the incident is something that should be condemned, as they even scold this women.
And they were scolding her.
Third the Sceptics and Historians: Much similar like the pharisees and disciples, but much more complicated:
This is the view of the sceptics and historians who would like to take note on each and every instances for finding faults on the verses. They argue about the reliability on the scriptures more than the meaning that it wants us to understand. It is not possible for anyone to understand the Gospels completely without the help of the Holy Spirit - John 16:13 NIV
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
Today our views on these instances that we read has varied from person to person as with our experience in our lives and our interpretations varies. But the truth is always truth, God doesn't change - He wants us to understand the fact that he gives us understanding only when we believe in him truly and not doubting and questioning and reasoning like sceptics.
But we as believers should believe what Jesus said -
First he recognises the sinful nature of this woman and her attitude towards forgiveness:
But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me.
He first answers the doubts and questions about sinfulness, sinful nature and forgiveness. He knew what the people thought about when this woman anointed him with the oil. Our view should be that of Jesus - To see the heart, not head (mind) nor feet (works).
Secondly, Jesus says about those who questioned about Money:
For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me.
Helping the poor from our heart is what God expects us to do. In the parable of Jesus - The Rich man and Lazarus is one of the good example as to how we should care for the poor.
Thirdly, Jesus says about his death and resurrection:
Jesus accepted the anointing of the oil because the purpose was more than what anyone could think of. "Preparing for the burial" - as Jesus mentions -
For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. 13 Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.”
Jesus even acknowledges her sacrifice (of spending such money) and says - Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.
Finally, Jesus also says an other explanation for the forgiveness of sins:
Luke 7:40-50
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Parable of Two Debtors
40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say [c]to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”Where is our thoughts today?
->On the precious ointment? -> On the question of where it was put to anoint Jesus - Head or Feet? -> On Forgiveness of sins? -> On Authority of God's Word?
Many Christian theologians say that the authors were having different interpretations and it is because of the variation in time when they wrote these incidents - Some authors gave us much detail, others omitted, but a fact is a fact. Say in the above instance itself - Matthew and Mark say that Jesus was anointed on the Head, whereas Luke says Jesus was anointed on Feet, but the fact is - Jesus was anointed. It is for that fact, the possibility may be that the woman may have poured on the head and also on the feet and anointed.
Hebrews 4:12
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division ofsoul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
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