Jesus Asks Some Good Questions

Asking good questions can lead to great personal insights and learning. Asking good questions can challenge our assumptions and affect our actions. Asking good questions can be hard work.

My children often ask me for help with their homework. They hope that I might just give them the answers so they can complete the assignment. But I know they need to figure out the solution for themselves. They need to wrestle with the questions on their own if they are going to master the content. So it is with the questions we ask ourselves about life.

Last Sunday our guest speakers talked about four questions that had significant influence on their lives. The questions were: Who is my neighbor? Can anything good come out of Nazareth? What is in your hand? What is your weakness?

They mentioned that in the gospels, Jesus asked hundreds of questions. That got me thinking and looking up some of his questions. Good questions can lead to spiritual examination which can be helpful but also painful. I’ve picked ten questions to share with you. I’ve been thinking about them. Take your time to consider the question, the context in which Jesus asks it, and what your answer might be.

I will warn you. You may stumble to understand the question. You may not like the responses you come up with. But don’t let that stop you from working on your answers. God wants to transform you through asking some good questions.

1. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? (Matthew 5:46)
2. Why do you worry about clothes? (Matthew 6:28)
3. Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4)
4. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
5. Are you so dull? (Mark 7:18)
6. Could you not keep watch for one hour? (Mark 14:37)
7. Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46)
8. Where is your faith? (Luke 8:25)
9. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16:11)
10. Do you love me? (John 21:17)

If you are like me, these questions raise new questions that I need to consider. But that’s a good thing. It’s stretching me and that’s how I grow.