Jesus, the Master Teacher, used questions quite frequently. — Why? What did He hope to accomplish?
The Types of Questions Jesus Asked
To determine why Jesus frequently used questions in His teaching, first consider the types of questions He asked. Jesus didn’t limit His questions to those that elicited what people knew. He went beyond mere recall of information to causing people to reflect or evaluate.
Here are some examples:
Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matt. 6:27)
Why did you doubt? (Matt. 14:31)
Who do people say the Son of Man is? … Who do you say I am? (Matt. 16:13-15)
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? (Lk. 6:32)
Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? (Lk. 10:36)
Why do you call me good? (Lk. 18:19)
What do you want me to do for you? (Lk. 18:35-41)
Do you want to get well? (Jn. 5:6)
Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? (Jn. 21:15)
Reasons Jesus, the Master Teacher, Used Questions
We can see by the types of questions Jesus asked that He wanted to take people to higher levels in their thinking and learning (Matt. 5:17-48). That would not happen by merely spoon-feeding them what they needed to know. Rather, it required people to truly understand the meaning and implications of truth. — Hence, He used reflective questions.
Jesus’ ultimate goal was to change lives not merely inform them of what they needed to know. That would require people to think critically so they analyzed their motives and attitudes as well as their behavior to see their need to be transformed. — Hence, He used evaluative questions.
Good article. A teaching strategy I use in my teaching.
Great! May God use your teaching to His glory!