16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated."doubtful" in the Greek is distazo, and it means to waver or doubt.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matt. 28:16-18 NAU)
In what sense did Matthew mean that some of the 11 disciples "doubted"?
First, the "some were doubtful" is distinguished from the "worshipped him" by the word "but". "But" intends to introduce an exception. The sense here is that some of the 11 did NOT worship Jesus at the time the others did.
Second, Matthew's only other use of distazo is in 14:31, where Peter's faith began to fail him as he walked on the water to meet Jesus, and Jesus characterizes the state of his mind as "why did you doubt (distazo)?".
28 Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."Third, how believable is it that the disciples could run around every day with Jesus, watching him perform genuinely supernatural miracles for three years to confirm the accuracy of his prediction that he would die and rise from the dead, and then "doubt" when beholding their resurrected lord? Exactly how many times can you dip into the "they-just-didn't-get-it" well, before it runs dry?
29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt (Matt. 14:28-31 NAU)
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