Why answer a question with a question?

Matthew 9:14-15

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them?...

Matt 15:1-3

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,

Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Matt 26:8-10

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

Mark 4:10,11,13

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God…

And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

Understanding a Question

Prov 26:4-5

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Four types ofQuestions

• The trick question

• Question that gives the answer

• Sarcastic

• Off topic question

THE TRICK QUESTION

RIDICULOUS SEEMING QUESTIONS

John 6:5-7 (Mat. 15:29-39)

5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

QUESTION THAT GIVES THE ANSWER

RIDICULOUS SEEMING QUESTIONS

Mat 8:22

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

SARCASTIC

RIDICULOUS SEEMING QUESTIONS

Mark 14:37

37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter,

Simon, sleepest thou?

–No (not now)

And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

Gen 3:7-9

7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Jonah 4:4

Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?

John 5:4-64 For an angel went down at a certain season into

the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

OFF TOPIC QUESTION

RIDICULOUS SEEMING QUESTIONS

Mark 5:25-3125 And a certain woman,

which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in herbody that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

• The trick question

• Question that gives the answer

• Sarcastic

• Off topic question

Jer 8:9

The wise men are ashamed, they are

dismayed and taken: lo, they have

rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?

1Thess 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without

ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as

the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh

also in you that believe.