Contradiction with Leviticus 11:7-8
These verses outline dietary laws and distinguish certain animals as unclean, suggesting that what is consumed can defile a person.
Leviticus 11:7-8: And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he [is] unclean to you.
Contradiction with Leviticus 11:10-12
These verses forbid the consumption of certain sea creatures and label them as abominations, indicating dietary restrictions that imply defilement through consumption.
Leviticus 11:10-12: And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which [is] in the waters, they [shall be] an abomination unto you:
Contradiction with Deuteronomy 14:3
This verse instructs not to eat any abominable thing, indicating that what one eats can cause defilement.
Deuteronomy 14:3: Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.
Contradiction with Ezekiel 4:13
This verse depicts defilement through eating defiled bread among the nations, associating food with spiritual impurity.
Ezekiel 4:13: And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.
Paradox #1
The contradiction could relate to dietary laws, as the Old Testament has strict rules about what foods are clean or unclean. Matthew 15:11 suggests that what a person eats does not make them unclean, which could seem inconsistent with those earlier laws. This shift might cause confusion or conflict about the importance of the dietary rules within different interpretations of religious practices.
Paradox #2
The verse could be seen as conflicting with Old Testament dietary laws, which emphasize the importance of what people eat in terms of cleanliness and following God's commandments. The verse, however, suggests that what enters the mouth does not defile a person, which can be seen as a shift from the earlier emphasis on dietary restrictions.
Paradox #3
The contradiction or conflict in this verse could be seen in the difference between external actions and internal intentions. The verse suggests that what comes out of a person, such as their words and behaviors, reflects who they truly are more than external rituals or cleanliness. The conflict arises when considering that other parts of religious teachings might emphasize following specific rituals and traditions. This could lead to a tension between focusing on inner purity versus external observance.