Answering 439 Bible Contradictions 

Answer: Jesus healed two blind men near Jericho, one whose name was Bartimaeus.

Problem: Matthew 20:30 references two blind men, while Mark 10 and Luke 18 name one.

Explanation: Enemies of the gospel try to prove there are errors in the Bible by employing a tactic I heretofore christen the “Jericho Juke”. They use this sham move to mislead their opponents into thinking the Bible contains mistakes. They get you to look that way when the answer is right in front of you.

Suppose while grocery shopping I buy a twelve-pack of Coke and a twelve-pack of Sprite. Upon returning home I tell my wife I bought a twelve-pack of Coke and she accuses me of dishonesty because I had also purchased a twelve-pack of Sprite. She has just used the Jericho Juke. Had I told her I bought only Coke, then that would be a lie, but innocently withholding some details doesn’t necessarily encompass a lie.

This objection is easy to answer.  Mark 10:46 provides certain unique details about the story, referencing only one blind man and telling us his name was Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus. Luke 18:35 also references one blind man but neither account says there was only one blind man. Matthew 20:30 withholds some details found in Mark (like the blind man’s name) but informs us there were actually two blind men that Jesus healed.

Don’t fall for the Jericho Juke. Rarely does a single gospel account give every detail of the story. The Synoptic Gospels act as a jigsaw puzzle such that, when putting all the pieces together, the reader gains a full account of the story.

Sum

This argument is easy to overturn and it reminds the Christian not to be afraid to defend the faith, as most of Satan’s attacks against the Scriptures are weak and frivolous.