Tuesday Contradictions–Matthew 25:35 – When “Stranger” Means Different Things: Context Matters

Episode 308 examines a seemingly difficult question: If Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger in Matthew 25:35, why do other passages appear to command Israel to kill strangers?

The answer begins with a simple fact: the English word “stranger” can represent several different Hebrew and Greek terms. Lance Smith looks at the gēr (resident sojourner), nokri/ben-nakar (foreigner or outsider), and zar (unauthorized person), showing why hospitality commands, the judgment against specific Canaanite nations, and restrictions surrounding the tabernacle are addressing different people in different circumstances.

The episode then brings those distinctions back to Matthew 25, showing how Jesus continues the Torah’s call to care for the vulnerable while recognizing that different situations require different responses. The alleged contradiction comes from treating every “stranger” as though the Bible were talking about the same person in every passage.

Sometimes the difficulty isn't in the Bible. It's in the way we read it.

References to items discussed and/or used on this podcast may be found at the following:

buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Website

The Bible Difficulties and Answers Facebook Page

Email Address: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com

Skeptic’s Annotated Bible – “How should strangers be treated?”  https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/strangers.html

SlimJim, “Bible Contradiction? How should strangers be treated?” The Domain for Truth, June 24, 2022. https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2022/06/24/bible-contradiction-how-should-strangers-be-treated/

Jeff A. Benner, “Natives, Strangers, Immigrants and Foreigners,” Ancient Hebrew Research Center. https://www.ancient-hebrew.org/studies-interpretation/natives-strangers-immigrants-and-foreigners.htm