Questions, questions

"Crazy and stupid questions, avoid them knowing that they bring forth disputes." 2 Timothy 2:23

The religious and political leaders of the Jews have often sought to trap Jesus by questions, to be able to accuse him of statements hostile to the Roman power or contrary to the Law of Moses. For example : "By what authority do you do this, or who gave you that authority to do that ?" (Mark 11:28) or "Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, or not ?" (Mark 12:14). The Lord's answers laid them bare and left them without arguments.

And if the Lord asked questions in his turn, he confused them in their arguments and left them dumb. For example : "Is not it written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a cave of thieves ?" Or "Was John's baptism from heaven or (Mark 11:17, 30), or "Why do you try to bring me a penny, that I may see it, and bring it in ?" And he said to them, "Who are this image and this inscription ?" (Mark 12, 15, 16). Through his answers or his questions, Jesus revealed the true motives of his opponents and unmasked their hypocrisy, so that, a few days before his death sentence, no one dared to interrogate him again (Matthew 22:46 ; Luke 20.40).

Jesus is our model in everything. But beware ! If we are drawn into debates, ask wisdom to know how to respond to our opponents. "When they give you up, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you have to say will be given to you at that hour ; it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaks in you"(Matthew 10:19, 20). It is not for us, in fact, that the task of proclaiming and defending the truth is left ; another takes charge of it, it is the Spirit of light and life. We are only spokesmen. It has been said : God never permits his servants to fall into a situation which surpasses them without giving them the help of his Spirit.

Let us not confuse inspiration and improvisation to justify a lack of preparation. We are spokespersons, not parrots. The word of wisdom comes from a heart prepared in contact with the Lord and the Scriptures.

Source (To pleasing the Lord)