((,•) Appeals to the conscience of the hearers : Mt 2317H'-, Mk 34 = Mt 1211 = Lk 6», Lk 1315 143- 5 (cf. Mt 12Wf).
(d) Appeals to OT Scriptures : Mk 225f. = Mt 123f. = Lk 63f-, Mk 1117 (question-form dropped in Mt 2113 and Lk 19-16), Mk 12iof- = Mt 21-12 = Lk 2017, Mk 1 226 = Mt 2231 <• (question-form dropped in Lk2037f.), Mt21l6, Jn 103-1.
(i?) To establish principles closely connected with the teaching of Christ in the immediate context : Jn 312 5«- « s-w. 46.
6. Again, Jesus often asked questions to lead men to an exact understanding of the circum- stances connected with a question addressed to Himself, or with a request asked of Him : Mk 10^ (contrast Mt 19') leads to a clear statement of the position of the Mosaic Law in regard to divorce, and enables ChrLst to contrast with it the higher law of God; Mk 10=*8^Mt 20^2 corrects the false notions of the sons of Zebedee in regard to the Messianic Kingdom ; cf. also Mk 10i8 = Mt 19i'' = Lk 18^3 ('Why callest thou me good?'), Mt iP^—Lk l'^^'^-, Lk 13--'*. The instances of this sort of ques- tion in the Fourth Gospel are of interest ; sometimes the question seems intended to make people think what they are doing (P^ lO^^ i85-7-2a.34 201^); at other times, to make them consider how they really stand in regard to Christ _(P" 3'2 66"-67.70 -719. 23^ Similarly a direct question often made men state exactly what they wanted (e.g. Mk 10'' = Mt 20^2= Lk 18", Jn 5<^).
7. Questions were also employed by Christ to draw from men a confession of faith ; the chief example is Mk 829=16i5^Lk Q^", where, after the disciples had stated the opinions of the ciowds concerning Himself, a further question led to St. Peter's great confession (cf. also Mt 9^^, Jn 6^^ 9^^
1P6).
8. Quite alone stands the awful question of human despair addressed from the Cross to the Almighty (Mk 15^4= Mt 27^"). To atterant to ex- amine the import of that question would be to enter on a discussion of the relation in which Jesus stood to His heavenly Father. See art. Dereliction.
9. Li two instances Christ asked questions of the learned men among the Jews which they were unable to answer : in each case He evidently in- tended to show that the fundamental principles on which their boasted knowledge rested were wrong. When they demanded by what authority He acted. He asked them whether the baptism of John was from heaven or of men (Mk lP''-=Mt 2125 = Lk 204). Their inability to answer showed tl)at they did not possess the spiritual powers necessary for forming a judgment on claims which rested on eternal principles of right and wrong. Tlie question (Mk 12^5::= Mt 22^2ff. ^ l^ 20«) con- cerning the Davidic descent of the Messiah showed that their interpretation of the Scriptures was not consistent, even when judged according to their own principles.
ii. Answers of Jesus to questions put to Him. — 1. We turn now to the answers which Jesus gave. Very striking are those instances where the silence of Christ was more eloquent than words could have been. It was useless to attempt any answer to the charges of witnesses, brought against Him before judges who had procured their false evidence (Mk 14''' = Mt 26^^), or to similar charges before Pilate (Mk 155 = Mt 27'^) and Herod (Lk 23") ; it was useless to discuss with such a man as Pilate the nature of truth ( Jn 18^^), or His heavenly mission (Jn 19^). Only when such questions are asked in a right spirit is it worth answering them. When Pilate asked Him (Mk 152--=Mt 27" = Lk 233, cf. Jn 18") whether He was ' the King of the Jews,' He gave an ambiguous answer — ' Thou sayest ' : it
was a title He had not Himself claimed, and which belonged to Him only in a sense that Pilate could not understand. But Christ did not hesitate, in spite of the obvious danger, to give direct answers to questions concerning His own claims (Mk 14^2 — Mt 26«, cf. Lk 22™). See art. Silence.
A very interesting problem arises, however, in regard to this last answer. The high priest asked (Mk 146--'), ' Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' (According to Mt 2663 he said, 'I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God ' : Lk 2270 has, ' And thev all said. Art thou then the Son of God ? '). Jesus answered, accord- ing to Mk. ' I am ' (iyu I'l/^i), according to Mt. ' Thou hast said ' {irii ihxs), and according to Lk. ' Ye say that I am ' (li^ei? X'.ycTs oTi lycii ufA.i). It is usual to interpret tlie answer in each Gospel as a strong affirmation, and, in view of the fact that the order of Lk. (who continues at once, 'And they said. What further need have we of witness?') supports this interpretation, it may probably be accepted as the right one. But it is possible that the answer to the high priest was really ambiguous, as the answer to Pilate seems to ha\-e been (so Westcott in Jn IS'"), and that Mk. and Mt. each dropped a half of the answer which is more accuratelj' preserved in Lk.