Understanding Why Jesus Asked Questions

Before doing this Bible study, please read the one-minute introduction Jesus Asked Questions.

It explains that even though James 1:19-20 isn't an evangelism verse, it offers wise counsel to take time to listen and ask questions when we're sharing Christ, to think before we speak, and to remain calm even when people disagree.

So let's examine the questions below. What was Christ's purpose in asking them?

Matthew 9: 27-30: As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 

Insights:

The blind men addressed Jesus as "Son of David" a title used for the Messiah (Read More). Jesus asked if they believed He could open the eyes of the blind, a Messianic prophecy (Isaiah 42:1-9).  

Do you think Jesus was questioning their faith or asking them to publicly profess it? What benefit would come from a public profession?  

This is one healing that Jesus ascribes directly to faith, but we mustn't fall into the trap of thinking healing is always dependent on our faith. Christ healed many others who never believed (see the story of the 10 Lepers in Luke 17:11-19). And see The Biblical View of Healing.

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Luke 5:17-26: One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” 

Insights:

This is such an intriguing multi-layered question.

Both forgiveness and physical healing had visible results in the life of this man, but the immediate proof would be in the man's physical healing. It would be difficult to immediately observe the results of God's forgiveness.

Which is the greater miracle, God's healing or God's forgiveness? How does one miracle reflect the other?

Christ read the heart of the sick man and realized he was sorry for his sins. His sins may or may not have been related to his illness, but Christ's highest purpose has always been to heal the soul. 

Christ also read the hard-hearts of the Pharisees, but they were unmoved by His knowledge of their hearts or His ability to heal. This is true of the hard-hearted today. 

copyright 2014, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated in 2023