2. Often He answered a question somewhat in- directly, correcting the mental attitude, or some misconception, of the questioner. Thus in answer to, ' Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven ? ' (Mt 18'), He shows the character of true greatness in the judgment of God. When a man asked (Lk 1323), 'Lord, are there few that be saved?' Jesus puts the word ' strive ' [d'ywvl^eade) at the head of His answer, and thus corrects the spirit of the questioner : this was no matter, He evidently tliought, for academic discussion such as the Jewish Rabbis delighted in, nor was it a question of privi- lege— it was a practical matter, in which i:)ersonal effort was of vital importance.
The following passages will repay careful study, and show how ready the Master was to avail Him- self of any opportunities of giving teaching, even if they were due to the hostile questions of His foes, and also how He always drew the questioner away from details and misconceptions to principles of vital imjjortance : — Mk 2''"'2 and parallels (the parallel between physical and mental healing — both are proper functions of the rejiresentative Son of Man), Mk 2'^"22 and parallels (formal fasting has no value), Mk 7^"^- = Mt 152^- (observance of the traditions of the elders), Mk 10""^- and parallels ('What does the word good really imply ? ' — then the young questioner is made to feel that his knowledge, that of the letter of the Law, is not enough to lead to goodness, and a counsel of per- fection is given), Mk 12'^*''- and parallels (distinction between carnal and spiritual things), Mk \Z^^- and parallels (men are not concerned with foreknowing the dates of future events, but with recognizing their import as they come), Mt 1 pf- = Lk 7'*"'- (What are the true signs of the Messiah ?), Mt 15'2 (it matters not if the carnally-minded are offended, whatever their worldly position), Lk 9''*'''- (where the TR evidently contains a correct exegesis), Lk jQ40ff. (there is something better than anxious out- ward service), Lk 12^'"^- (those who have to teach others must learn all they can). It is evident that in most cases the answer was given in such a way as to cause thought, without which its reference to the question is by no means obvious ; this is notably the case in Lk 17^'' ; the epigrammatic answer to the question of the perplexed disciples — 'Where, Lord ?' — finds a solution only when Ave remember that the Master's thoughts were fixed on eternal principles, not on the examples of them that take place in time.
3. Very characteristic of the Fourth Gospel is the way in which Christ is represented as making questions of quite ordinary import, or those caused by utter bewilderment, the occasion of spiritual teaching. When Nicodemus asks (3*) how a man can be born a second time, Christ does not attemjife to explain the difficulty, taut goes on to speak of
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bein;^ born froip water and spirit. Each question of tlie puzzled crowd in the Capernaum synagogue (ch. 6) leads on to deeper teaching, so that those disciples who could neither follow it nor accept it on trust left Him. When the Jews ask where Christ got His education (7^^), His answer points them to the Divine Author of His teaching. The disciples ask (9-) whether lilindness from birth is the punishment of pre-nata' or of parental sin ; the answer sets aside .such a question as trivial, and embodies the only explanation of human suf- fering tiiat can be given — it is necessary to the working out of God's plan. Judas (not Iscariot) asks in surprise (14-'^), 'Lord, what has happened that thou art about to manifest thyself to us and not to the world ? ' — the answer shows the condi- tion of communion with the Father. The careful student will multiply instances for himself.
i. Christ made people answer their own ques- tions by Himself putting leading questions. The image and superscription of Ctesar on the tribute money (Mk 121** and parallels) gave a practical answer to the question of the Pharisees and Herodians, and to the lesson thus taught He Him- self added a spiritual one. Many instances in which the questioners were forced to think out the answers for themselves will be found referred to under i. §§ 5 and 6 above, for it was charac<eristic of Christ's methods to answer a question by a question.
5. The answers given by Christ to questions which were asked for the express purpose of placing Him in a difficult position, or of showing the falsity of His principles, may at first sight seem to require separate treatment ; but further con- sideration will show that He avoided the pitfalls prepared for Him by using the same dialectical methods as in replying to the inquiries of dis- ciples : either He made the hostile questioners practically answer their own question, as in the case of the paying of tribute to Rome (Mk 12''' |1) ; or else He took occasion to state a great general principle, which included and forced into its right place the particular detail referred to in the ques- tion (Mk 2"*"-''^ II, and other passages referred to under § 2 above).
Literature. — Gore, BL lf)8ff.; Denney, Gospel Qtiestions and Answers ; Knight, The Master's Questions to His Disciples.