I find tough..
Matthew 15:21-28
Mark 4:11-12
I like
Mark 3:21. Makes the story seem more credible to me.
Also find tough is Jesus's association with John The Baptist. Luke 7:28? Was Jesus "born of woman"? I find this passage very difficult to understand.
There is a method of interpreting scripture called
Biblical hermeneutics, which might help with understanding the more difficult verses and concepts (by also understanding the history, culture and context behind the passages). Here is just my opinion on them, based on my understanding:
In Matthew 15:21-28, a gentile woman came up to Jesus asking for her daughter to be set free from an evil spirit. The gentiles at the time were looked down upon by the Jews, because the Jews knew they were God's chosen people and were supposed to be a light to the other nations. Jesus Himself was also Jewish, and the gentile nations didn't follow God's laws nor His commands, but rather trusted in false gods. However, Old Testament scripture does mention the salvation of the gentiles, and those who knew and understood the scriptures knew this. Jesus was basically testing the woman's faith (which would have required a lot of faith since she wasn't Jewish), and she passed the test. I think Jesus also used the situation to show His disciples what it meant to live by faith, and to teach them that even gentiles could be saved. I'm sure at the time both were very radical ideas.
The concept of Jesus speaking in parables in Mark 4:11-12 and throughout the gospels in general is indeed difficult to understand; I still struggle with fully understanding it as well. But, I think the reason is explain in Romans 11:11. God allowed the hearts of the Jews (as a nation) to be hardened, so that they would reject Jesus as the messiah. God longed for them to be saved, but it wasn't time yet; He had planned to allow the Jewish people to reject Him so that salvation can be granted to everyone (the gentile nations). I do believe this is why Jesus spoke in parables, so that only those who were prepared to receive salvation would understand and be saved. Although, God will eventually save all of Israel as prophesied / promised.
Jesus at times did use confusing terminology. But I think in Luke 7:28, Jesus was describing people born in the physical world, not stating he was lesser than John the Baptist (since he was in fact born of a woman as well). He was making a parallel between the physical and spiritual / heavenly world, and that that even the least in Heaven will be greater than John.
