Here's A Question

Matthew 22: 34 – 45

Ask a question, get a question

Today’s topic is ‘Ask a question, get a question. The Scribes ask our Great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the question ‘Which is the Greatest Commandment of all?’ With His answer the religious leaders were speechless. Then our Lord takes a turn and asks them a question, ‘How can David call His descendant Lord?’ To this question the religious leaders are guess what? -speechless. The only different thing that occurs when our Lord asked the question is that they refrain from ever asking Him any more questions again. Way to go Lord!

As we begin let us look at what the Gospels record on these two incidents.

Matthew 22 “34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Mark 12, “28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. 33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.”

Matthew 22, 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: 44 ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’? 45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Mark 12, “35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’ 37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” And the common people heard Him gladly.

Luke 20, “41 And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? 42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’ 44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”

In preparing for this teaching I dug out my old notes from my time in the ‘Debate Club’. Our school would compete against other schools. For a shy highly emotion Irish boy I felt that taking this challenge on would develop me with strong discipline.

Skilled debating is an art. To win arguments and convince others of your views you must understand the basic components of logic, psychology, and effective communication.

The team would be given an issue and then assigned a ‘for’ or ‘against’ position. Research had to be done on the ‘issue’ so you could grasp knowledge then not only did you have to formulate questions on your position but think about what the opponents would ask.

Once the debate begins your opponent will respond to your thesis by objecting to one or more of your premises, which are the reasons you have given to support your position. If you are well informed about your position, most of the objections should already be familiar to you. Use logic and evidence to show your opponent why his or her objections do not work.