Answering Islam - A Christian-Muslim dialog

Jesus Christ – The Omniscient Son of God

Sam Shamoun

In this article, I will be quoting verses from the New Testament writings to affirm that the Lord Jesus Christ knows all things such as knowing the hearts of all people, which is one of the essential attributes of God. The purpose in compiling this list of references is to offset the repeated appeal by anti-Trinitarians to passages where Jesus is described as not knowing all things or as growing in wisdom and stature (cf. Mark 13:32; Luke 2:40, 52), while ignoring the explicit Biblical witness to Christ’s omniscience. The simple fact is that according to the inspired Scriptures it isn’t an either/or situation, e.g. Jesus either knows everything or he doesn’t, but rather a both/a scenario, i.e. Jesus knows everything by virtue of being God while also not knowing all things in relation to his human consciousness which he possesses due to his human nature. We might not be able to comprehend this or explain how this works out, yet the simple fact of the matter is that this what the Holy Bible teaches.

Moreover, some of these verses also include other explicit statements to the Deity of Christ, such as Jesus claiming to be the Lord of the Sabbath or possessing the power to forgive sins, which reinforces the fact of Christ being omniscient. After all, if Christ is described as God in the flesh then he must surely be omniscient seeing that this is an essential characteristic of Deity. 

With that said we now proceed to the evidence.

“And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, ‘Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven’; or to say, “Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—He said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.’ And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this.’” Mark 2:5-10 – cf. Matthew 9:4; Luke 5:22

And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.’” Matthew 12:25

“And He was saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’ On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him. But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Get up and come forward!’ And he got up and came forward.” Luke 6:5-8

“An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,” Luke 9:46-47

“Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. But He knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.’” Luke 11:16-17

“Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.” John 2:23-25

“‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.” John 6:64

“‘A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.’ Some of His disciples then said to one another, ‘What is this thing He is telling us, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me”; and, “because I go to the Father”?’ So they were saying, ‘What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.’ Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, ‘Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, “A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me”?’” John 16:16-19

“‘These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.’ His disciples said, ‘Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe?’” John 16:25-31

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’” John 21:17

“until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen… So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;’… ‘Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us—’… And they prayed and said, ‘You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen.’” Acts 1:1-2, 6-7, 21, 24

“on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” Romans 2:16

“For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:4-5

“that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first… and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.’” Revelation 2:18-19, 23b

“‘Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.’… He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:12-13, 20

Now in order to more fully appreciate these statements compare them to what the following texts say in respect to God’s knowledge:

“in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” 1 John 3:20

“Would not God find this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.” Psalm 44:21

“then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive and act and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know, for You ALONE know the hearts of all the sons of men,” 1 Kings 8:39

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” 1 Chronicles 28:9

“Behold, the Lord God will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” Isaiah 40:10-11 – cf. 62:11

I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10 – cf. 11:20; 29:23; Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12

In light of the foregoing, it is crystal clear that the inspired Scriptures proclaim that Jesus Christ is omniscient since he is depicted as knowing all things, in particular the thoughts and intentions of every human heart. The inspired writers even go as far as to take and adopt the very language which certain Biblical passages use to describe Yahweh’s omniscience and applies it to Christ! Compare, for instance Matthew 16:27, Revelation 2:23, and 22:12 with Isaiah 40:10 and Jeremiah 17:10. 

All of this conclusively proves that Jesus Christ is the God-Man according to the God-breathed Scriptures. As such, Christ didn’t know all things in regards to his human consciousness, and yet in respect to his divine nature he is the omniscient Lord of glory and perfect revelation of the incomprehensible and unfathomable God:

“At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, ‘I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Luke 10:21-22 – cf. Matthew 11:27

 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.” John 1:18

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.” John 6:44-46

“And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.” John 12:44-45

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.’ Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.’” John 14:6-11 

“in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” Corinthians 4:4-6  

All Scriptural references taken from the New American Standard Version (NASB) of the Holy Bible.