ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITH QUESTIONS
- INTRODUCTION-- As the "master teacher," Jesus sometimes used the tactic of
answering a question with a question.
- LESSON--
- It was a custom, as suggested by the evidence, to question the authority of those
who claimed to be prophets.
- In the Old Testament times, God gave ways for men to know whether a
prophet was genuine, or not.
- A prophet could be known by the validity of his "signs." Deuteronomy 18:20
22 "But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I
have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that
same prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word
which Jehovah hath not spoken? 22 when a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah,
if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not
spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him."
(This would require patience to watch for the sign's fulfilment.)
- Even if a sign was fulfilled, the words spoken by the prophet must be in
harmony with the revealed will of God. Deuteronomy 13:1-3 "If there arise in
the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a
wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee,
saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
3 thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of
dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your
God with all your heart and with all your soul." (God had already forbidden the
worship of false gods, so the chance fulfilment of the prophet's sign was not
an indication of his credentials.)
- It was alright for the Jews to ask for Christ's credentials, but He had already
given them ample signs as proof of His identity. Jesus answered by asking.
- In the first example, Jesus was asked to prove His authority. Matthew 21:23
27 "And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the
people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou
these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said
unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you
by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from
heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say,
From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him? 26 But if we
shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And
they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I
you by what authority I do these things."
- The day before, Jesus had entered the Temple, and had cast out the
money-changers and sellers of sacrificial animals. He had also healed
many of those who were lame and sick.
- The healings, being based on righteous benevolence, were ample signs
that they were wrought in God, and proof of His authority.
- In the second example, Jesus asked a question in answer to a question, but
went ahead to give His own answer. Mark 2:23-28 "And it came to pass, that
he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples began, as
they went, to pluck the ears. 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do
they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25 And he said unto them, Did ye
never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that
were with him? 26 How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high
priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests, and
gave also to them that were with him? 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was
made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 so that the Son of man is lord even of
the sabbath."
- Traditions of men had confused them on the purpose of the sabbath.
- The sabbath was not to be served, but it served man's need.
- In the third example, Luke's version of a conversation with Jesus shows Him
asking his questioner to answer his own question. Luke 10:25-37 "And behold,
a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to
inherit eternal life?And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest
thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy
neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and
thou shalt live. But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my
neighbor? Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from
Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him,
and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest was going down
that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.And in like manner a
Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But
a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he
was moved with compassion, and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on
them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and
took care of him. And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the
host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come
back again, will repay thee. Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto
him that fell among the robbers? And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And
Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise."
- APPLICATION-- Complete trust in Jesus as the source of all wisdom should keep us
from asking for His credentials. Colossians 2:3 "In (Jesus Christ) are all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge hidden."