When Questions Aren’t Questions
(Matt. 21:23-22:43; Luke 20:20-40; Mark 12:28-34)
1. You cannot win with some people:
A new body repairman was just breaking in at the car shop. He was working on his first official project, a banged up car. He made significant repairs, taking his time, feeling the edges, and touching up to the point of perfection. It was feathered out perfectly.
Soon the customer came by. To the bodyman’s surprise, he began complaining. The repairman could not understand. The owner showed him the side of the car. He said the paint didn’t match, there were all sorts of bumps and valleys—it was horrible. He raised his voice, demanding an explanation and threatend to refuse paying for the repairs. "Well," the repairman offered, "All I can say is that the repairs I made were on the other side of your car!"
2. Jesus, likewise, could not win with some people. They pretended like they had questions, but no matter how wisely or correctly Jesus answered, they were not going to believe.
Proverbs 26:4-5,"Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes."
Proverbs 15:28, "The heart of the righteous weighs its answers..."
Proverbs 26:16, "The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly."
3. There is a sinfulness in human nature that shows itself like this: if I like you, you can do no wrong; if I dislike you, you can do no right.
4. Few things irritate me about people as much as when this attitude displays itself; it is the heart of insincerity, dishonesty, disrespect for truth. People get to the point where they do not even know they are lying or re-adjusting truth to fit their preconceived ideas.
5. I am sure Jesus was aggravated about this. The stubborn deceitfulness of the human heart and the narrowness of the human mind caused Him to say things like, "How long must I put up with this generation?"
MAIN IDEA: Jesus was asked many questions that were not sincere inquiries, and He handled them with wisdom and boldness. So we too are in a battle for the souls of men, and this battle is often fought in the realm of the mind.
TS----- Like Jesus, we must analyze the nature of an inquiry and choose from among several types of responses to use. We must learn to give a discreet answer. Let’s look at several types of questions and Jesus responses.
I. A Question that Is Really An Objection: Jesus’ Answer: An Indirect One (Matt. 21:23-22:14)
1. Jesus teaching in the Temple Courts….Jewish leaders approach Him
2. By what authority do you do these things (turn over tables, receive the acclaim of crowds on Palm Sunday, teach, etc.)
(1) the question: who ordained you? (3 elders of synagogue, one ordained)
(2) What are your credentials?
(3) Purpose: to embarrass Jesus….
Who has authority over your life? spouse, employers, parents, teachers, doctors police, etc. Why gives a right for these people to be in authority over us?
We recognize their authority, rights over us, and we by and large trust their judgment....
3. Jesus avoids having to give a direct answer by challenging them (giving them their own medicine): The baptism of John, of men or of God…
4. He answers clearly but indirectly through parables…
(1) A man planted a vineyard; he rented it out….
(2) Matt. 21:42 (Jewish understanding = David)
5. Jesus is the son sent by the owner, and the Jewish leadership would kill Him rather than submit to the true God…
Application: Sometimes we Christians need to be indirect; because something is true does not mean we need to blurt it out or speak up….Jesus certainly felt no obligation to do so---He was often indirect and occasionally evasive…people often need to be led to see truth---cannot cram it down their throats…
II. A Question that Was A Trap; Jesus’ Response: A Deep Answer (Matt. 21:15-22)
1. Sometimes people want to ask a question that cannot be answered simply; they have to be willing to think…
2. Sometimes they ask such questions to try to trap us…
(1) If God can do anything, can God make a rock He cannot lift?
(2) You have your religion and I have mine. Isn’t mine as good as yours?
(3) How can you say God is three and one at the same time?
3. These sorts of questions have answers, but if we answer them simply we often find our answer inaccurate and incomplete. I sometimes tell people I can answer them, but they have to be willing to think and listen. If they are not, I will not bother to tackle them.
4. Some Pharisees tried to trap Jesus into taking sides
(1) more zealous Jews (zealots, Pharisees) said, "do not pay taxes to Rome unless life on line"
(2) more cooperative Jews: pay taxes…
(3) What do you say, Jesus?
5. Jesus perfectly logical response: think with me….see a coin…
6. The deeper issue was not to argue about paying taxes, but to render to God the things that are God’s….that the unbelievers could not argue with…
7. Remember, the biggest reason people are repelled by the true God of the Bible is because they want to justify their own sinfulness and they believe they are free apart from God; we need to help them see this. If they want to use a technicality to justify their lack of obedience to the Lord, we cannot stop them. But we can let them know we don’t buy it.
Application: An important area of spiritual maturity is to get beyond the particulars of the Christian life and look at the motives and principles behind the particulars…. The real problem with the unbelieving Jews was not a technical question about taxes, but the issue of PRIORITY. Is God first in your life? Lining up our lives with God’s revealed will is only profitable for those who love God and want to please Him. If the motivation is not there, the particulars are merely distractions….
III. A Question That Is Really Mockery: Jesus Response: Scriptural Logic
1. What is the difference between something Scriptural and Scriptural Logic?
(1) Scriptural logic is the extension of a principle…can err (most errors are of the "all women are humans, therefore all humans are women" thinking—confusing truth with whole truth)….
(2)E.g., do not be drunk with wine…works of the flesh…witchraft (φαρμασια) --what about drugs?
2. Sadducees believed only in the Torah, not rest of OT; claimed no teaching about resurrection there; you die, that’s it….
(1) hypothetical story of the Sadducees
----He answers the questions with "apples and oranges" logic
----but He wants to also prove the resurrection from the Torah
(2) typical Jewish response…Deut. 11:21
(3) Jesus’ answer better…
"I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…."
3. Often times the question, "Where did Cain get his wife?" is asked in this fashion, as though the Bible was logically inconsistent…Gen. 5:4 answers that…
Application: When someone is out to mock the faith, the best you can hope for is to give them something to think about….but generally if their attitude is sour, it takes a major work of the Holy Spirit to change that…
IV. A Sincere Question About Priorities; Jesus Response: A Direct Answer (Mark 12:28-34)
1. This type of legitimate question comes from someone who is open to assess what you have to say…. Not the "if I like you you can do no wrong, if I dislike you, you can do no right" but a "wait and see" attitude…
2. A man was sent from the Pharisees, predisposed against Jesus, but a seeker of truth. This man was willing to listen and think for himself….more loyal to the truth than he was to a religious group…
3. He asked Jesus a question to trap him, but he was surprised when He heard Jesus’ answer…
(1) which is the most important commandment
(2) Jesus answered with the Shema….
(3) Then He added the second greatest…love your neighbor….
4. This man was impressed w/Jesus answer, clarity, convictions…
5. Jesus response: "You are not far from the Kingdom of God…"
6. Some people are true seekers…others are just dabblers who will never be willing to commit to Jesus Christ….
CONCLUSION
1.The more of a warrior for the Kingdom of God you are, the wiser you need to become in people skills.
2. It is good for people to raise questions because they are curious or confused.
3. But when people ask questions to make excuses for rejecting God, we need to answer them in a way that will get them thinking.
4. People need the Lord, and we are the ones to reach them.
5. Therefore, we need to diligently sharpen our skills and our knowledge.
6. This is part of what it means to be Christlike.
MAIN IDEA: Jesus was asked many questions that were not sincere inquiries, and He handled them with wisdom and boldness. So we too are in a battle for the souls of men, and this battle is often fought in the realm of the mind.
TS----- Like Jesus, we must analyze the nature of an inquiry and choose from among responses. We must learn to give a discreet answer.
