The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast

Tuesday Contradictions: Matthew 12:37 – Justified? Words, Hearts, and Grace (200th Episode!)

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Host Lance Smith marks episode 200 by tackling an apparent contradiction between Matthew 12:37 and Psalm 143:2. He explains how Psalm 143:2 shows that no one can earn righteousness before God, while Matthew 12:37 highlights how our words reveal the heart and confirm genuine faith. The episode resolves the tension by distinguishing forensic justification by faith from evidential justification seen in transformed speech and actions.

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  1. Skeptics Annotated Bible: https://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/justified.html 
  2. Grier, W.J. "Justification by Faith." The Highway. Available at: https://www.the-highway.com/justification_Grier.html
  3. McFadden, Kevin W. "10 Things You Should Know about Justification by Faith." Crossway. Available at: https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-justification-by-faith/
  4. Swanson, Scott A. "The Instruction of the Spirit: The Wisdom Framework for Pauline Spirit Dependence." Mid-America Journal of Theology 29 (2018): 81-128. Available at: https://www.midamerica.edu/uploads/files//pdf/journal/04swansonjournal2018.pdf
  5. "Matthew 12:37 For by your words you shall be justified." Christ's Words. Available at: https://christswords.com/content/mat-1237-your-words-you-shall-be-justified
  6. Wartanian, Simon. "God's Absolute Sovereignty." Lion and Lamb Apologetics (2024). Available at: https://lionandlambapologetics.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Gods-Absolute-Sovereignty-Wartanian.pdf
  7. Cross, Bryan. "Justification: The Catholic Church and the Judaizers in St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians." Called to Communion (2009). Available at: https://www.calledtocommunion.com/2009/12/justification-catholic-church-and-the-judaizers/ (Included for balanced perspective on faith-works dialogue.)
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