Contradiction with James 1:6-7
These verses suggest that wavering in faith leads to receiving nothing from the Lord, which contrasts with Matthew 21:21, where unwavering faith enables the impossible.
James 1:6-7: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Contradiction with Mark 9:24
This verse acknowledges the presence of both belief and unbelief, which contradicts the notion in Matthew 21:21 that pure faith can achieve anything.
Mark 9:24: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Contradiction with Matthew 17:20
Similar to Matthew 21:21 in message but often seen as overstating the outcome in practical faith testing, hence perceived as contrasting when considering real-life application.
Matthew 17:20: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Paradox #1
One possible theological conflict with this verse is the concept of prayer and faith. The verse suggests that with strong faith, anything is possible through prayer. Some may see this as inconsistent with real-life experiences where people pray with deep faith but do not receive what they ask for. It raises questions about why some prayers are answered while others are not, and how faith works in relation to God's will.
Paradox #2
The potential scientific inconsistency could be with the concept of causing a fig tree to wither instantly or moving a mountain by faith alone. In science, physical actions or natural processes typically require observable mechanisms or forces to create such changes. Instantaneous withering or moving large objects like mountains through belief without any physical cause contradicts known natural laws and physical principles.
Paradox #3
The contradiction in Matthew 21:21 could be that it encourages having strong faith to perform miracles, like withering a fig tree or moving mountains, which might seem unrealistic or at odds with the idea of facing life's challenges through practical means. It might suggest that faith alone can lead to extraordinary outcomes, which some could interpret as contradictory to the idea of taking actionable, realistic steps to solve problems.