JESUS WOULD GIVE BIBLE ANSWERS FOR RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS
by Randy Baker
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Jesus, through the Word of God, provided us a high standard to follow. He says “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Peter points out that Christ provided an example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21). We may ask “what would Jesus do” when we’re facing some challenge in our lives? One of the challenges we have is knowing how to answer religious questions. When watching Jesus’ activities, what pattern can we observe that would provide us guidance on how to appropriately handle spiritual questions?
Jesus had to answer questions from a lot of different types of personalities. For example, we see Jesus answering a question from a sincere scribe in Mark 12:28, “’What commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.’” What do we see? Jesus answered a religious question with scripture (Deut. 6:4-5; Lev. 19:18).
Jesus also had to answer hard questions from those who were not friendly toward Him. In Mark 12:18 we see an occasion when a group of Sadducees attempt to trap Jesus in a difficult question. “And there come unto him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed; and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise: and the seven left no seed. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.’ Jesus said unto them, ‘Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven. But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.’” Jesus scolds the questioners for reaching erroneous conclusions. He quickly refers to scripture that answers their question (Exodus 3:6). The Sadducees had apparently reached a bad conclusion from handed-down tradition, or some writing that was not part of God’s Word, but Jesus showed they needed to rely on scripture.
Jesus even faced direct challenges from Satan himself. “And the tempter came and said unto him, ‘If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ 4But he answered and said, ’It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, ‘If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.’ Jesus said unto him, ’Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.’ 8Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and he said unto him, ‘All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.’ Then saith Jesus unto him, ’Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve’” (Matthew 4:3-10). Jesus’ approach is clear - He repeatedly says “It is written” to remind Satan of the truth (Deut. 8:3; 6:13,16; 10:20). Notice that Satan also used scripture (Psalm 91:11-12). Using scripture incorrectly is no better than ignoring it altogether. Understanding His word correctly is critical.
What did Jesus do when asked a religious question? He answered with correctly applied scripture!
by Randy Baker
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Jesus, through the Word of God, provided us a high standard to follow. He says “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Peter points out that Christ provided an example for us to follow (1 Peter 2:21). We may ask “what would Jesus do” when we’re facing some challenge in our lives? One of the challenges we have is knowing how to answer religious questions. When watching Jesus’ activities, what pattern can we observe that would provide us guidance on how to appropriately handle spiritual questions?
Jesus had to answer questions from a lot of different types of personalities. For example, we see Jesus answering a question from a sincere scribe in Mark 12:28, “’What commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.’” What do we see? Jesus answered a religious question with scripture (Deut. 6:4-5; Lev. 19:18).
Jesus also had to answer hard questions from those who were not friendly toward Him. In Mark 12:18 we see an occasion when a group of Sadducees attempt to trap Jesus in a difficult question. “And there come unto him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man’s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed; and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise: and the seven left no seed. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.’ Jesus said unto them, ‘Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven. But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.’” Jesus scolds the questioners for reaching erroneous conclusions. He quickly refers to scripture that answers their question (Exodus 3:6). The Sadducees had apparently reached a bad conclusion from handed-down tradition, or some writing that was not part of God’s Word, but Jesus showed they needed to rely on scripture.
Jesus even faced direct challenges from Satan himself. “And the tempter came and said unto him, ‘If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ 4But he answered and said, ’It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, ‘If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.’ Jesus said unto him, ’Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.’ 8Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and he said unto him, ‘All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.’ Then saith Jesus unto him, ’Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve’” (Matthew 4:3-10). Jesus’ approach is clear - He repeatedly says “It is written” to remind Satan of the truth (Deut. 8:3; 6:13,16; 10:20). Notice that Satan also used scripture (Psalm 91:11-12). Using scripture incorrectly is no better than ignoring it altogether. Understanding His word correctly is critical.
What did Jesus do when asked a religious question? He answered with correctly applied scripture!
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1 comment:
Thanks for the great article!
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