Questions by Jesus

A few thoughts on how to be like Jesus and a comprehensive list of the authored questions He gave us

Is there anything more valuable than a good question?

Questions make us think. Questions teach us to work in our own power. Questions lead us to become leaders ourselves.

A question is a much more respectful posture than a statement, don’t you think?

I think so.

When I am asked a question I am invited in. My opinion and thoughts matter. I know that the person speaking doesn’t just want to hear themselves being right.

Can you think of anyone that did this better than Jesus?

I can’t.

A master of metaphor, storytelling, and questions, Jesus as a teacher has profound respect for His apprentices. For us. For you.

He doesn’t just tell us.

He asks us.

His every word and approach reveals profound mystery and discovery.

I think that’s why I’m always a little disappointed when my fellow apprentices of Jesus try to get rid of the questions and the mystery, and boil it down to hard facts.

That just isn’t what Jesus did.

I just don’t think we can try to be like Him and ignore this.

I think that if we are to teach other humans to follow Jesus we have to teach them the way that Jesus did.

Respectfully.

Aa shown to us by a Jesus that wasn’t afraid to be rejected.

A Jesus that did not force His way down others throats.

A Jesus that let His beloved students wrestle and struggle in mystery.

A Jesus that let His beloved students walk away with wrong ideas.

A Jesus that doesn’t get nearly enough credit for how much He respects us.

He lets us fail… knowing that He never will. That’s wild. Just think about that.

That way.

A way… that doesn’t really work very well in a Church that trends towards centralized speakers making declarative statements from elevated platforms into microphones that no one else has.

That way… not so much.

Which is where you come in.

Because you don’t have to do it that way.

You can ask questions.

You can admit weakness.

You can admit that occasionally on a Tuesday you maybe don’t believe any of it.

You can make all of it, every inch, good and bad, one more tool you use in following Jesus.

Are you following Jesus, today?

Then I don’t really see how there are any wrong answers in your yesterday process of getting to be where you are, right here, today. You can share all of it.

And then you can ask them, “what do you think?”

And meet people there there.

You don’t need anyone’s permission to do this.

The line of authority goes like this: Jesus and you.

That’s it.

You can lead others into faith with a profound respect for them, like Jesus did.

And if you don’t want to, or maybe, you just think others need to hear truth and certainty, or… maybe you’re just positive that all everyone needs is to just realize where they are wrong…

I guess I only have one thought for you.

How’s that working out for you?

Without further ado, here is a comprehensive list of the questions attributed directly to Him in the text. 1

As always, for readability, I use the NLT, except where noted I use the NIV

Matthew

1. 5:13 — “Can you make it salty again?”
2. 5:46 — “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?”
3. 5:46 — “Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” (NIV)
4. 5:47 — “If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else?”
5. 5:47 — “Do not even pagans do that?” (NIV)
6. 6:25 — “Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”
7. 6:26 — “And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”
8. 6:27 — “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
9. 6:28 — “And why worry about your clothing?”
10. 6:30 — “Why do you have so little faith?”
11. 7:3 — “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”
12. 7:4 — “How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?”
13. 7:9 — “You parents — if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?”
14. 7:10 — “Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake?”
15. 7:16 — “Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”
16. 8:26 — “Why are you afraid?”
17. 9:4 — “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?”
18. 9:5 — “Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?”
19. 9:15 — “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom?”
20. 9:28 — “Do you believe I can make you see?”
21. 10:29 — “What is the price of two sparrows — one copper coin?”
22. 11:7 — “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?”
23. 11:7 — “Was it a reed swayed by the wind?”
24. 11:8 — “What did you go out to see?”
25. 11:8 — “Was it a man dressed in expensive clothes?”
26. 11:9 — “What did you go out to see?”
27. 11:10 — “Was he a prophet?”
28. 11:16 — “To what can I compare this generation?”
29. 11:23 — “And what about Capernaum?”
30. 12:3 — “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?”
31. 12:5 — “And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?”
32. 12:11 — “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out?”
33. 12:26 — “If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” (NIV)
34. 12:27 — “And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists?”
35. 12:29 — “For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods?”
36. 12:34 — “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?” (NIV)
37. 12:48 — “Who is my mother?”
38. 13:51 — “Do you understand all these things?”
39. 14:31 — “Why did you doubt?”
40. 15:3 — “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God?”
41. 15:16 — “Are you still so dull?”
42. 15:17 — “Don’t you understand that the food you put into your body cannot defile you?”
43. 15:34 — “How much bread do you have?”
44. 16:8 — “Why are you arguing about having no bread?”
45. 16:9 — “Don’t you understand even yet?”
46. 16:9 — “Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves?”
47. 16:10 — “And the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves?”
48. 16:11 — “Don’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread?”
49. 16:13 — “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
50. 16:15 — “But what about you?”
51. 16:15 — “Who do you say I am?”
52. 16:26 — “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
53. 16:26 — “Is anything worth more than your soul?”
54. 17:17 — “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you?
55. 17:17 — ”How long must I put up with you?”
56. 17:25 — “What do you think, Simon?”
57. 17:25 — “Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”
58. 18:12 — “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do?”
59. 18:13 — “Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?”
60. 19:4 — “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?”
61. 19:17 — “Why ask me about what is good?”
62. 20:21 — “What is your request?”
63. 20:22 — “Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”
64. 20:32 — “What do you want me to do for you?”
65. 21:16 — “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures?”
66. 21:25 — “Where did John’s baptism come from?”
67. 21:25 — “Was it from heaven, or was it merely human?”
68. 21:28 — “What do you think about this?”
69. 21:31 — “Which of the two obeyed his father?”
70. 21:40 — “When the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do to those farmers?”
71. 21:42 — “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures?”
72. 22:18 — “Why are you trying to trap me?”
73. 22:20 — “And whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
74. 22:31–32 — “Haven’t you ever read what God said to you?”
75. 22:42 — “What do you think about the Messiah?”
76. 22:42 — “Whose son is he?”
77. 22:43 — “Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’?”
78. 22:45 — “Since David called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”
79. 23:17 — “Which is more important — the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?”
80. 23:19 — “Which is more important — the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?”
81. 23:33— “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (NIV)
82. 24:2 — “Do you see all these buildings?”
83. 24:45 — “Who is a faithful and wise servant?”
84. 26:10 — “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?”
85. 26:40 — “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?”
86. 26:45 — “Are you still sleeping and resting?”
87. 26:53 — “Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?”
88. 26:54 — “But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”
89. 26:55 — “Am I some dangerous revolutionary?”
90. 27:46 — “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

MARK

1. 2:8 — “Why do you question this in your hearts?”
2. 2:9 — “Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?”
3. 2:19 — “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom?”
4. 2:25 — “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?”
5. 3:4 — “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”
6. 3:23 — “How can Satan drive out Satan?”
7. 4:13 — “Don’t you understand this parable?”
8. 4:13 — “How then will you understand any parable?”
9. 4:21 — “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed?”
10. 4:21 — “Doesn’t a lamp belong on a stand?”
11. 4:30 — “How can I describe the Kingdom of God?”
12. 4:40 — “Why are you afraid?”
13. 4:40 — “Do you still have no faith?”
14. 5:9 — “What is your name?”
15. 5:30 — “Who touched my clothes?”
16. 5:39 — “Why all this commotion and weeping?”
17. 6:38 — “How much bread do you have?”
18. 7:18 — “Don’t you understand either?”
19. 7:18 — “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you?”
20. 8:5 — “How much bread do you have?”
21. 8:12 — “Why does this generation seek a miraculous sign?”
22. 8:17 — “Why are you arguing about having no bread?”
23. 8:17 — “Don’t you know or understand even yet?”
24. 8:17 — “Are your hearts too hard to take it in?”
25. 8:18 — “You have eyes — can’t you see?”
26. 8:18 — “You have ears — can’t you hear?”
27. 8:18 — “Don’t you remember anything at all?”
28. 8:19 — “When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”
29. 8:20 — “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
30. 8:21 — “Don’t you understand yet?”
31. 8:23 — “Can you see anything now?”
32. 8:27 — “Who do people say I am?”
33. 8:29 — “But who do you say I am?”
34. 8:36 — “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”
35. 8:37 — “Is anything worth more than your soul?”
36. 9:12 — “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”
37. 9:16 — “What are you arguing about?”
38. 9:19 — “You faithless people! How long must I be with you?”
39. 9:19 — “How long must I put up with you?”
40. 9:21 — “How long has this been happening?”
41. 9:23 — “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?”
42. 9:33 — “What were you discussing out on the road?”
43. 9:50 — “How can you make it salty again?”
44. 10:3 — “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?”
45. 10:18 — “Why do you call me good?”
46. 10:36 — “What do you want me to do for you?”
47. 10:38 — “Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”
48. 10:51 — “What do you want me to do for you?”
49. 11:17 — “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”
50. 11:30 — “Was John’s authority to baptize from heaven, or was it merely human?”
51. 12:9 — “What will the owner of the vineyard do?”
52. 12:10–11 — “Haven’t you read this Scripture?”
53. 12:15 — “Why are you trying to trap me?”
54. 12:16 — “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
55. 12:24 — “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?” (NIV)
56. 12:26 — “But regarding the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses?”
57. 12:35 — “Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David?”
58. 12:37 — “Since David himself called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”
59. 13:2 — “Do you see these great buildings?”
60. 14:6 — “Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me?”
61. 14:14 — “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?”
62. 14:37 — “Simon, are you asleep?”
63. 14:37 — “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?”
64. 14:41 — “Are you still sleeping and resting?”
65. 14:48 — “Am I leading a rebellion?”
66. 15:35 — “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”

Luke

1. 2:49 — “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
2. 5:22 — “Why do you question this in your hearts?”
3. 5:23 — “Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?”
4. 5:34 — “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom?”
5. 6:3 — “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry?”
6. 6:9 — “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
7. 6:32 — “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that?”
8. 6:33 — “And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit?”
9. 6:34 — “And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit?”
10. 6:39 — “Can one blind person lead another?”
11. 6:41 — “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?”
12. 6:42 — “How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?”
13. 6:46 — “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?”
14. 7:24 — “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?”
15. 7:25 — “Were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes?”
16. 7:26 — “Were you looking for a prophet?”
17. 7:31 — “How can I describe the people of this generation?”
18. 7:42 — “Which of them will love him more?”
19. 7:44 — “Do you see this woman?”
20. 8:25 — “Where is your faith?”
21. 8:30 — “What is your name?”
22. 8:45 — “Who touched me?”
23. 9:18 — “Who do the crowds say I am?”
24. 9:20 — “But who do you say I am?”
25. 9:25 — “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?”
26. 9:41 — “You faithless and corrupt people!”
27. 10:15 — “And you, Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven?”
28. 10:26 — “What does the law of Moses say?”
29. 10:36 — “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?”
30. 11:11 — “You fathers — if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?”
31. 11:12 — “Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion?”
32. 11:18 — “And if Satan is divided and fights against himself, how can he stand?”
33. 11:19 — “And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists?”
34. 11:40 — “Didn’t the Maker of the outside also make the inside?”
35. 12:6 — “What is the price of five sparrows — two copper coins?”
36. 12:14 — “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?”
37. 12:20 — “Then who will get everything you worked for?”
38. 12:25 — “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”
39. 12:26 — “And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?”
40. 12:42 — “And who is a faithful and wise manager?”
41. 12:51 — “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth?”
42. 12:56 — “Why can’t you understand the signs of the times?”
43. 12:57 — “Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right?”
44. 13:2 — “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?”
45. 13:4 — “And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them?”
46. 13:7 — “So why should it use up the ground?”
47. 13:16 — “Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” (NIV)
48. 13:18 — “What is the Kingdom of God like?”
49. 13:20 — “How can I illustrate it?”
50. 14:3 — “Does the law permit healing on the Sabbath or not?”
51. 14:5 — “If your child or your ox fell into a well, wouldn’t you rush to get him out?”
52. 14:28 — “Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
53. 14:31 — “And what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?”
54. 14:34 — “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again?”
55. 15:4 — “Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until you find it?”
56. 15:8 — “Wouldn’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it?”
57. 16:11 — “And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”
58. 16:12 — “And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?”
59. 17:7 — “When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’?”
60. 17:8 — “Would he not rather say, “Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me, while I eat and drink?” (NIV)
61. 17:9 — “And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do?”
62. 17:17 — “Didn’t I heal ten men?”
63. 17:17 — “Where are the other nine?”
64. 17:18 — “Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
65. 18:7 — “So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night?”
66. 18:7 — “Will he keep putting them off?”
67. 18:8 — “But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
68. 18:19 — “Why do you call me good?”
69. 18:41 — “What do you want me to do for you?”
70. 20:4 — “Was John’s baptism from heaven, or was it merely human?”
71. 20:15 — “What will the owner of the vineyard do to them?”
72. 20:17 — “Then what does this Scripture mean?”
73. 20:24 — “Show me a Roman coin. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
74. 20:41 — “Why do they say the Messiah is David’s son?”
75. 20:44 — “Since David called the Messiah ‘Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”
76. 22:11 — “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?”
77. 22:27 — “Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves?”
78. 22:27 — “Is it not the one who is at the table?”
79. 22:35 — “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or an extra pair of sandals, did you need anything?”
80. 22:46 — “Why are you sleeping?”
81. 22:48 — “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
82. 22:52 — “Am I leading a rebellion?”
83. 23:31 — “What will happen when the tree is dry?”
84. 24:17 — “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
85. 24:19 — “What things?”
86. 24:38 — “Why are you frightened?”
87. 24:41 — “Do you have anything here to eat?”

John

1. 1:38 — “What do you want?”
2. 2:4 — “Woman, why do you involve me?” (NIV)
3. 3:10 — “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?”
4. 3:12 — “If you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?”
5. 4:7 — “Will you get me a drink?” (NIV)
6. 4:35 — “Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest?” (NIV)
7. 5:6 — “Would you like to get well?”
8. 5:44 — “How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (NIV)
9. 5:47 — “But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”
10. 6:5 — “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”
11. 6:61 — “Does this offend you?”
12. 6:67 — “Are you also going to leave?”
13. 6:70 — “Haven’t I chosen you, the Twelve?”
14. 7:19 — “Why are you trying to kill me?”
15. 7:23 — “Why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath?”
16. 8:10 — “Where are your accusers?”
17. 8:43 — “Why can’t you understand what I am saying?”
18. 8:46 — “Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin?”
19. 8:46 — “And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?”
20. 9:35 — “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
21. 10:32 — “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
22. 10:34 — “Doesn’t the Scripture say ‘I have said you are gods’?”
23. 10:36 — “Why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’?”
24. 11:9 — “Are there not twelve hours of daylight in a day?”
25. 11:26 — “Do you believe this, Martha?”
26. 11:34 — “Where have you put him?”
27. 11:40 — “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?”
28. 12:27 — “Father, save me from this hour.”
29. 13:12 — “Do you understand what I was doing?”
30. 13:38 — “Will you really lay down your life for me?”
31. 14:9 — “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am?”
32. 14:10 — “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”
33. 16:5 — “…now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’” (NIV)
34. 16:19 — “Are you asking yourselves what I meant?”
35. 18:4 — “Who are you looking for?”
36. 18:7 — “Who are you looking for?”
37. 18:11 — “Am I not to drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”
38. 18:21 — “Why are you asking me this question?”
39. 18:23 — “If I said something wrong,’ Jesus replied, ‘testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?’”
40. 18:34 — “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”
41. 20:15 — “Dear woman, why are you crying?”
42. 20:15 — “Who are you looking for?”
43. 21:5 — “Friends, have you caught any fish?”
44. 21:15 — “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
45. 21:16 — “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
46. 21:17 — “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
47. 21:22 — “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

All scripture referenced is NLT unless otherwise noted. I prefer NLT for postural discussion as it is both reasonably rigorous while retaining a conversational tone.

For study I strongly encourage the use of original language tools, multiple translations, and rigorous critical thought.

Please remember that when you read the Bible in English you are always reading someone else’s theological interpretation of the text.

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Please note I did not do the original work of assembling these questions. I started here: https://redletterchallenge.com/the-305-questions-jesus-asked-with-one-shocking-discovery/ and then did some more work forward from that point.

Ministry is every the work of you and I doing our best and echoing the people who did so the day before.

Thank you Zach for your service!