QUESTION: Would you explain what appears to be a discrepancy between Luke 23:39-43 and Matthew 27:38-44; Mark 15:32? Did one or two of the insurgents rail on Jesus? I know that all scripture is inspired of God and truthful!
ANSWER: Since there can be no discrepancy in God’s inspired Word, there appears to be two possibilities: (1) At the first, both railed on Jesus (of which Matthew and Mark speak), one later repented, while the second continued to mock (of which Luke speaks) or (2), what one said was attributed to the group, in this case two! This practice was common. For example: Mark 7:17 says, “His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.” Matthew 15:15 tells us that specifically it was Peter who spoke. Compare also Mark 5:31 / Luke 8:45 and Luke 9:13 / John 6:8-9. Today if a lone police officer gave me a ticket for speeding, I might tell my friends that the “Police pulled me over” or that the “Police gave me a ticket.” Certainly, there is no discrepancy between what actually happened and what I reported. The important fact I am trying to relay is not how many policemen were involved in giving me the ticket, but rather the fact that I got a ticket.