It seems that the Gospel writers were so eager to portray Jesus as the Messiah, that they frequently made obvious mistakes in their the wriitings. Often the mistakes made the other characters in their fiction look foolish and forgetful. John's forgetfulness in Matthew, shows that Matthew was more concerned with proving that Jesus was the Christ and that he was fulfilling prophecy, than he was in writing a accurate biography. The Gospels are full of events like this.
Jesus' own mother and relatives seemed to forget that her son was the promised Messiah.
21 And his relatives having heard of it went out to lay hold on him, for they said, He is out of his mind. ........................ 31 And his brethren and his mother come, and standing without sent to him calling him. 32 And a crowd sat around him. And they said to him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren seek thee without. Mark 3:21,32 (Darby's)Mark describes events that he could not have witnessed.
35 And, going forward a little, he fell upon the earth; and he prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. 36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: take away this cup from me; but not what *I* will, but what *thou* wilt. 37 And he comes and finds them sleeping. And he says to Peter, Simon, dost thou sleep? Hast thou not been able to watch one hour? Mark 14:35-37 (Darby's)
Matthew also describes events that he did not witness.
1Then Jesus was carried up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil: 2 and having fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he hungered. 3 And the tempter coming up to him said, If thou be Son of God, speak, that these stones may become loaves of bread. 4 But he answering said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which goes out through God's mouth. 5 Then the devil takes him to the holy city, and sets him upon the edge of the temple, 6 and says to him, If thou be Son of God cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give charge to his angels concerning thee, and on their hands shall they bear thee, lest in anywise thou strike thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said to him, It is again written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again the devil takes him to a very high mountain, and shews him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory, 9 and says to him, All these things will I give thee if, falling down, thou wilt do me homage. 10 Then says Jesus to him, Get thee away, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him. Matt 4:1-11 (Darby's)
Mark forgot for a moment that he was recording Jesus' speach, and injected his own thoughts.
14But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not, (he that reads let him consider it,) then let those in Judaea flee to the mountains; Mark 13:14 (Darby's)
There are also numerous examples of Jesus constantly reminding the Disciples that he was the Son of Man. They just never seemed to understand what he was telling them. It seems like he had to explain every parable to them. Were they the stupidest people he could find?
The Gospels were not written to record history. They were written to prove that Jesus was Christ.
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