Matthew v. Mohammed

I aim to complete a plain reading of the text of Matthew (NIV) and note each instance where the text contradicts standard Islamic teaching. I pray that any person reading this will do so with an open mind. Each of us must decide to believe the Injil, Quran, or neither. There is no middle ground and no compromise with mutually exclusive truth claims.

We know that Mohammed accepted the Injil (defined variously as the Gospels, New Testament, or teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, used here as the Gospel accounts contained in the New Testament):

Sura 5:46 Subsequent to them, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the previous scripture, the Torah. We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming the previous scriptures, the Torah, and augmenting its guidance and light, and to enlighten the righteous.

Also see here. The Quran presupposes the reliability of the Gospel accounts, and early Muslim scholars accepted their reliability. Corruption charges were made, claiming that the Gospels were changed after the Quran was written. We now have manuscripts from before Mohammed was born showing that, in fact, the text was not changed.

Any corruption claims must be presented with evidence. I don't plan to waste much time with unfounded "the Bible has been corrupted wherever it doesn't agree with me" question-begging.

We also have complete manuscripts of the Gospel according to Matthew (in fact of the entire Christian New Testament) from circa 350 AD.

Mohammed was born in 571,  so we have manuscripts from 220 years before Mohammed was born.

Therefore, we know exactly what the Gospel of Matthew stated during Mohammed's time. Whether Mohammed knew that the Gospel of Matthew stated is questionable.

If you see anything I've missed, let me know in the comments section.

1. 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Note here that Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means "The Lord saves". Saves? How can the Lord save through Jesus, when He is a mere prophet?

2. 1:23 The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, "God with us".

This refers to Isaiah 7:14. "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Seems to me the author of Matthew is telling us God is with us, but how can that be since the Quran, written hundreds of years after the fact, says God wasn't with us? Since we're on the subject, how does Islam explain Isaiah 7:14? Exactly how was this prophecy fulfilled?

3. 2:2b We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.

The wise men come specifically to worship the freshly minted King of the Jews. How can that be, since only God deserves worship?

4. 2:8b ...so that I too may go and worship him.

Here Herod is trying to deceive the wise men, and implicitly acknowledges that there was going to be some worshippin' going on.

5. 2:11b ...they bowed down and worshiped him.

The wise men have arrived to see Jesus.

6. 2:15b And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." (Hosea 11:1)

Hosea 11:1 Hosea records the words of God in prophetic format. How can God call His son when He can't have a son? Perhaps Mohammed didn't read that part of the Old Testament. Oops! He couldn't read at all!

7. 3:3b Quotes Isaiah 40:3. "...Prepare the way for the Lord..."

The Lord? Why would Jesus be called Lord if he wasn't divine?

8. 3:11b He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Here we have the Holy Spirit identified. While not explicitly called divine here, how do Muslims explain the Holy Spirit? How does Jesus baptize with it?

9. 3:16b At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

What is this Spirit of God if not a person of the Trinity?

10. 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

My Son? Whose Son is Jesus? I thought God couldn't have a Son. Since Muslims believe in the virgin birth, who is the Father here?

11. 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

What is this Spirit? Christianity has an easy answer--the Trinity. It is identified as separate from God.

12. 4:10b Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13 "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." This will come into play later when Jesus is worshipped.

13. A general note here. Jesus did not get a word from God here. Jesus was and is God's Word. He preaches, drives out demons and heals on his own authority. Other prophets heard from God. Mohammed had to get a message from an angel. Jesus needed no such things.

14. 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Those of you trying to earn your own way into the kingdom of heaven are in trouble.

15. 7:15-16a Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.

We have a warning against false prophets here, and a way to recognize such false prophets--by their fruit. What fruit did the prophet Mohammed bear? How about Jesus? Which fruit would you rather eat?

16. 7:28-29 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

From whence did Jesus did this authority? Did an angel have to tell him what to say? Was he unsure of his message at first? Not at all. Jesus taught with authority because, as the Son of God, He has authority.

17. 8:20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.

Another claim to divinity here with the "Son of Man" title.

18. 8:29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"

The demon-possessed men refer to Jesus as Son of God.

19. 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."

Jesus has authority to forgive sins. Have you Muslims ever read this thing? Jesus also proves his ability to forgive sins by performing a miracle.

20. 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Jesus compares himself to wisdom, a powerful claim to deity.

21. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Jesus claims to be the Son of God, contrary to what Mohammad said in Sura 10:68.

22. 12:6-8 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

How is Jesus greater than the temple? The Son of Man (Jesus) is Lord of the Sabbath, openly breaking Sabbath traditions (also see Matthew 12:13). How is it that Jesus can do this? He acts of His own authority.

23. 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Here Jesus clearly and unequivocally refers to His impending burial. How does Islam explain this? If Jesus didn’t die on the cross, to what is this prophecy referring?

24. 14:28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." AND 14:30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Peter twice refers to Jesus as “Lord”. It would be strange to call a mere prophet “Lord”.

25. 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Those closest to Jesus worship Him and refer to Him as the Son of God.

26. 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah…."

Jesus prophecies his burial and resurrection, three days, like Jonah.

27. 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Son of God? How can that be? God can’t have a Son according to Islam.

28. 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

I ask again. Have you Muslims actually read this thing? How much clearer could Jesus be?

29. 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

This was said about Jesus at the transfiguration. It sounds similar to the voice heard at the baptism of Jesus. The voice claims to be the father of Jesus. Who was speaking on the mountain if not God the Father? Was it Joseph?

30. 17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Raised from the dead? How can that be? To what exactly is this referring? If you can’t answer, why do you continue to believe the Quran? 31. 17:22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life."

Hmmm…

32. 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Jesus is teaching that salvation is impossible through works of men. It is impossible for you to earn your way into the kingdom of God. Only with God is salvation possible.

33. 20:17 Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

If Jesus wasn’t crucified, He is a false prophet. If Jesus was crucified, the teaching of Islam that Jesus wasn’t crucified is wrong. Either way, Islam is wrong. This is important.

34. 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Jesus came to give his live as a ransom for many. This sounds suspiciously like sacrificial atonement. Of course, Islam claims no one can pay for the sins of another. Please explain how the Son of Man can give his life as a ransom.

35. 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" Jesus is referring to Psalm 8:1-2 “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Jesus yet again claims to be God, accepting praise and assigning psalms written to God to himself.

36. 21:38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.' So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

This is from the parable of the tenants. Jesus is describing how God has sent his Son, and those to whom the Son was sent will kill Him.

37. 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied. He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." ' If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Whose son is the Christ? God’s Son.

38. 26:2 "As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

This is getting repetitive. Jesus certainly spent a lot of time predicting something that supposedly never happened.

39. 26:12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.

Jesus is remarking on why a woman had poured perfume on him. Of course, Jesus must have been delusional since He was neither killed nor buried.

40. 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.

To Muslims: Shouldn’t you be doing this in remembrance of Jesus? Even if you don’t believe the crucifixion and resurrection, why don’t you follow this?

41. 26:28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

How can this be, since no one can pay for the sins of another?

42. 27:43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "

Jesus’ accusers claim he referred to himself as the Son of God. What could that mean?

43. 27:53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Matthew refers to the resurrection here, again utterly contradicting the scribes who wrote Mohammed’s words.

44. 27:54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

At least someone figured it out…

45. 27:62-63 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

The hostile witnesses of Jesus declared that Jesus said he would rise after three days. To what was Jesus referring if he wasn’t actually killed?

46. 28:5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified."

But Mohammed said Jesus wasn't crucified? How can this be?

47. 28:6 He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said.

Note, just as he said. Jesus himself predicted his death and resurrection.

48. 28:17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.

Here we see the proper response when one encounters God. The disciples worshipped Jesus. However, even after encountering the risen Christ, some still doubted. Little has changed since that time. Regardless of the evidence presented, some will doubt the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Jesus.