Contradiction with John 11:11-14
Jesus refers to Lazarus as sleeping, but clarifies he is dead, showing a shift in metaphor not aligning directly with Matthew 9:24’s immediate interpretation.
John 11:11-14: These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Contradiction with 1 Thessalonians 4:14
Describes those who are dead in Christ as "asleep," showing a spiritual rather than literal death, differing in context but not directly contradicting the sleep metaphor in Matthew 9:24.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Contradiction with Ecclesiastes 9:5
States the dead know nothing, contrasting with the idea that death could be perceived as sleep, as in Matthew 9:24.
Ecclesiastes 9:5: For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Paradox #1
One potential contradiction is with verses that describe the state of death. In Matthew 9:24, Jesus refers to a dead girl as "not dead but asleep," which might conflict with other parts of the Bible that describe death as a final state until resurrection. Some readers might find it inconsistent in how death is portrayed or understood.
Paradox #2
The contradiction in this context could be the concept of someone being dead and then coming back to life. According to modern science, once someone is clinically dead and remains so for a period of time without medical intervention, it's typically considered irreversible. This contrasts with events described in biblical texts, where revival from death is presented as possible.
Paradox #3
The contradiction in Matthew 9:24 could relate to the idea of belief versus skepticism. In this verse, Jesus says a girl is not dead but asleep, and people react with disbelief. The conflict is between having faith in Jesus' words and the initial human response of skepticism toward miraculous claims. This contrast highlights the challenge of trusting spiritual truths over perceived reality.