Luke 7:39, The Omniscience of the Gospels

Posted on Saturday, May 3, 2014 in Bible Commentary | 0 comments

When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

//It’s interesting to me that all four authors of the Gospels assume an air of omniscience. They know things that a mere eyewitness observer would have no way of knowing. In today’s verse, how could Luke possibly know what this Pharisee was thinking?

There are many examples of this sort of thing in the Gospels. Here are a few more that come to mind, from the book of Matthew, from the simple to the complex:

Then the man got up and went home. –Matthew 9:7

How would Matthew know where the paralytic man went after being healed?

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ –Matthew 27:63

How would Matthew know what was said in this discussion between Pilate and the chief priests?

She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” –Matthew 9:21

This is the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. How would Matthew know what she was thinking?

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” –Matthew 26:39

How would Matthew know what Jesus prayed? Jesus was whisked away immediately afterward to be crucified.