A few months back, Pastor Morris Sheats (one of my ministry heroes and mentors) shared about a sermon series he was preparing on the questions Jesus asked. This concept intrigued me, and I decided to jump into study of this topic myself.
I have been amazed by how masterfully our Lord uses questions to teach vital spiritual truths. Jesus never asked a question because he needed to know the answer. He used questions the way a surgeon uses a scalpel, to delicately cut into a new level of understanding.
Compiled here is a list of questions Jesus asked. Though it is probably not exhaustive, it is an extensive collection of interrogations still demanding answers of us.
I find myself amazed at the power of these questions to cut into my soul. I’d love to hear which question most jumps off the page and leaves you pondering as you read today.
- If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? (Matthew 5:46)
- If you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? (Matthew 5:47)
- Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)
- Why do you worry about clothes? (Matthew 6:28)
- Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3)
- Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:16)
- Why are you so afraid? (Matthew 8:26)
- Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4)
- Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? (Matthew 9:5)
- How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? (Matthew 9:15)
- Do you believe that I am able to do this? (Matthew 9:28)
- What did you go out into the desert to see? (Matthew 11:7)
- To what can I compare this generation? (Matthew 11:16)
- If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? (Matthew 12:11)
- How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? (Matthew 12:29)
- You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? (Matthew 12:34)
- Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? (Matthew 12:48)
- Why did you doubt? (Matthew 14:31)
- Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? (Matthew 15:3)
- How many loaves do you have? (Matthew 15:34)
- Do you still not understand? (Matthew 16:9)
- Who do people say the Son of Man is? (Matthew 16:13)
- Who do you say I am? (Matthew 16:15)
- What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
- How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? (Matthew 17:17)
- From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes–from their own sons or from others? (Matthew 17:25)
- What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? (Matthew 18:12)
- Why do you ask me about what is good? (Matthew 19:17)
- What is it you want? (Matthew 20:21)
- Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? (Matthew 20:22)
- What do you want me to do for you? (Matthew 20:32)
- John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men? (Matthew 21:25)
- What do you think? (Matthew 21:28)
- Have you never read in the Scriptures? (Matthew 21:42)
- Why are you trying to trap me? (Matthew 22:18)
- What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? (Matthew 22:42)
- Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? (Matthew 23:17-19)
- How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Matthew 23:33)
- Why are you bothering this woman? (Matthew 26:10)
- Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour? (Matthew 26:40)
- Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53)
- But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? (Matthew 26:54)
- Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? (Matthew 26:55)
- My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)
- Why are you thinking these things? (Mark 2:8)
- Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? (Mark 4:21)
- What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? (Mark 4:30)
- Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? (Mark 4:40)
- What is your name? (Mark 5:9)
- Who touched my clothes? (Mark 5:30)
- Why all this commotion and wailing? (Mark 5:39)
- Are you so dull? (Mark 7:18)
- Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? (Mark 7:18)
- Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it. (Mark 8:12)
- Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? (Mark 8:17-18)
- When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? (Mark 8:19)
- When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? (Mark 8:20)
- Do you still not understand? (Mark 8:21)
- [To the blind man] Do you see anything? (Mark 8:23)
- Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? (Mark 9:12)
- What were you arguing about on the road? (Mark 9:33)
- Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? (Mark 9:50)
- What did Moses command you? (Mark 10:3)
- Why do you call me good? (Mark 10:18)
- What do you want me to do for you? (Mark 10:51)
- Why are you trying to trap me? (Mark 12:15)
- Do you see all these great buildings? (Mark 13:2)
- Are you asleep? (Mark 14:37)
- Could you not keep watch for one hour? (Mark 14:37)
- Why were you searching for me? (Luke 2:49)
- Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house? (Luke 2:49)
- Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? (Luke 5:22)
- Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? (Luke 5:23)
- Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46)
- Where is your faith? (Luke 8:25)
- What is your name? (Luke 8:30)
- Who touched me? (Luke 8:45)
- Will you be lifted up to the skies? (Luke 10:15)
- What is written in the Law? How do you read it? (Luke 10:26)
- Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? (Luke 10:36)
- Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? (Luke 11:40)
- Who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you? (Luke 12:14-15)
- Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Luke 12:25)
- Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? (Luke 12:57)
- Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? (Luke 14:31)
- Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? (Luke 14:34)
- Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? (Luke 15:4)
- Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? (Luke 15:8)
- So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16:11)
- Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? (Luke 17:17)
- And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? (Luke 18:7)
- However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8)
- For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? (Luke 22:27)
- Why are you sleeping? (Luke 22:46)
- For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry? (Luke 23:31)
- What are you discussing together as you walk along? (Luke 24:17)
- What things? (Luke 24:19)
- Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? (Luke 24:26)
- Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? (Luke 24:38)
- Do you have anything here to eat? (Luke 24:41)
- What do you want? (John 1:38)
- Why do you involve me? (John 2:4)
- You are Israel’s teacher, and do you not understand these things? (John 3:10)
- I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? (John 3:12)
- Will you give me a drink? (John 4:7)
- Do you want to get well? (John 5:6)
- How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? (John 5:44)
- If you do not believe Moses’ writings how will you believe me? (John 5:47)
- Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? (John 6:5)
- Does this offend you? (John 6:61)
- What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! (John 6:62)
- You do not want to leave too, do you? (John 6:67)
- Have I not chosen you? (John 6:70)
- Has not Moses given you the law? (John 7:19)
- Why are you trying to kill me? (John7:19)
- Why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath? (John 7:23)
- Where are they? Has no one condemned you? (John 8:10)
- Why is my language not clear to you? (John 8:43)
- Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? (John 8:46)
- If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? (John 8:46)
- Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? (John 10:36)
- Are there not twelve hours of daylight? (John 11:9)
- Do you believe this? (John 11:26)
- Where have you laid him? (John 11:33)
- Do you understand what I have done for you? (John 13:12)
- Don’t you know me, even after I have been among you such a long time? (John 14:9)
- Who is it you want? (John 18:4,7)
- Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me? (John 18:11)
- Is that your own idea, or did others talk to you about me? (John 18:34)
- Why question me? (John 18:21)
- If I spoke the truth, why did you strike me? (John 18:23)
- Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? (John 20:15)
- Friends, haven’t you any fish? (John 21:5)
- Do you love me? (John 21:17)
- What is that to you? (John 21:22)
Number 18…Why did you doubt?
Sometimes I’ll still be surprised when His “coolness” shows up in my life…then wonder why the surprise…Kind of like, “Well, duh!”
That’s a good one — who was Peter doubting? Jesus or himself?
#126
Don’t you know me, even after I have been among you such a long time?
Makes me think of my relationship with God…He has been in my life a long time…but how much do I really ‘know’ Him. I can spend the rest of my life ‘growing’ to know Him and there will still be more! But this verse urges and encourages me to want to know Him more.
There is a world of difference between knowing about Him and knowing His heart.
My prayer, just today was, Lord may I apply my heart in our Wisdom…May my children and my husband apply their hearts in your Wisdom…all the days of our lives…and may our future generations apply their hearts in your Wisdom! In Jesus’ Name! Good stuff I tell ya’!
What is that to you?
Yeah — that one has some punch.
[…] have 135 Question Jesus Asked posted on the blog. Leave a response and let us know which question most captures your […]
3.Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)
It sure makes your life seem a lot longer……….he ..he..he
[…] Bible, Names of Jesus, Bible Verses About the Father, verses that include the phrase “But God,” Questions Jesus Asked, One Anothers in the Bible, and even The Begots of the Bible. Beauty of the Bible by Peter Lopez […]
Consider studying..”In Christ, In Him, In Christ Jesus” long lists with applications. Also all the questions in Job. Best to You and thanks for your suggested study ideas.
[…] 135 Questions Jesus Asked […]
[…] in your own words. This brings Scripture powerfully alive. In another posting entitled “135 Questions Jesus Asked,” Pastor Eric von Atzigen offers the following insightful observation about why Jesus asked […]
Also, thanks for the compilation of this list of questions. I have often thought of”
1. Questions God Asked
2. Questions Jesus Asked
3. Questions Men Asked of God
4. Quetions Men Asked of Jesus
Love this list…..certainly going to work on answering these. Thanks for sharing.
[…] For more insights check out a list of 135 Questions Jesus Asked HERE. […]
[…] Check out 135 Questions Jesus Asked for an interesting list of His […]
[…] a list of “135 Questions Jesus Asked” from the Monday Morning […]
[…] answers, but cutting to the heart with difficult, uncomfortable questions. Sitting and reading the questions of Jesus is a penetrating exercise. On the other hand, of the 183 questions that others ask Jesus in the […]
[…] if Jesus came to us with so many questions why are we so set on having answers? (click here to see 135 of Jesus’ questions or here for a similar […]
[…] As a matter of fact, Jesus asked over 135 questions as recorded in the Gospels! Check out https://mondaymorningreview.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/137questionsjesusasked/ for a listing and a great post from Emmanuel Fellowship […]
[…] in your own words. This brings Scripture powerfully alive. In another posting entitled “135 Questions Jesus Asked,” Pastor Eric von Atzigen offers the following insightful observation about why Jesus asked […]
I have actually written a book on this topic, covering 20 of the “Questions Jesus Asks” in the gospels (and one in Acts). It was a follow-up to a previous book that I wrote entitled, “Questions God Asks,” which was a study through the Old Testament.
You can check it out and read a free sample here: http://www.nlpg.com/questions-jesus-asks
[…] says. Plain and simple.” If it is so plain and simple then why am I questioning it? I saw on one site where a guy did a list of the questions Jesus did and came up with 135 in Scripture. 135!!! […]
[…] at all the situations he faced, all the questions he received. It’s jaw-dropping how often he answered a question with an awesome question. He knew when to be direct, be open-ended, go “back-door” to the heart, redirect, and […]
This is an old post, and it is good. I read about it on CARM today. However, I need to ask about the issue of plagiarism. If the questions are the work of the author, then no attribution is necessary.
If this is from another source, then it is necessary for the sake of Christian witness, integrity and moral responsibility to identify the source
thx ..good work
My interest in questions that the Saviour asked was renewed today as Jesus asked the Apostles “But who do you say that I am?” in today’s Gospel
Many thanks for the list- a treasure of information.
I love this page,135 questions Jesus asked.
[…] 135 Questions Jesus Asked […]
[…] https://mondaymorningreview.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/137questionsjesusasked/ […]
I work in Transformational Development in developing countries. I suppose I’m have a go at trying to be a little Jesus. When I see and hear people ask questions about the Lord I have often found a disciples heart. Question can show humility. We need to be asking our Father lots of stuff every day. Allan@LWD
I noticed that the Apostle Paul did this too in Galatians 3:1-5.
In His asking questions of humans He not only showed His Wisdom but also His Humility, think about it and Praise Him for His Gentleness.
[…] But Christ’s questions – they invite more searching, more admitting that we don’t know everything. His questions throughout the New Testament force us to get humble enough to honestly state any assertion hiding behind the question: -What did you go out into the desert to see? (Matthew 11:7) -Why are you so afraid? (Matthew 8:26) -Who do you say I am? (Matthew 16:15) -What is it you want? (Matthew 20:21) -Why are you trying to trap me? (Matthew 22:18) -When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up? (Mark 8:19) Check out 135 Questions Jesus Asked. […]
[…] us to wrestle more deeply with several fundamental questions. (Jesus was always asking questions; at least 135 of them.) If we’ll answer honestly, that will open the door to some authentic conversations with […]
Just would like to know if Jesus Christ was a Roman story developed politicly and established by the Nicea council on the basis of the ptolemic era which ancient of Egypt worshired the sun and tracked the stars, pre-Christian era, the birth of Christ-25 Dec with a star in the east which the Wiseman followed in order to locate the birth of God’s son Jesus. It’s the same birthday sequences that permiate many cultures of the world preChristian era. It’s also astrological, Sirius star in the east is followed by the 3kings(3majai’s)in order to locate the birth of the sun during the end of the winter solstice,Sirius star in the east on the 24th Dec aligns with the 3kings in onions belt and on Dec 25th Sirius and the 3kings point to the place of the sunrise at winter solstice.22nd of Dec, the sun dies for 3 days and on the 25th rises 1degree north bringing warmth, signaling the coming warm season. Thomas Paine- Christian religion is a parody on the worship of the sun in which they put a man called Christ in the place of the sun and pay him the adoration originally payed to the sun.
[…] Jesus also asked dozens of questions even though he knew the answers. Why? While there could be other reasons, it seems to me that he wanted to elicit faith in people and to help them arrive at a personal knowledge of the truth. When it comes to helping people arrive at a biblical worldview, Jesus knew questions were often far more powerful than statements. In fact, he knew the most important question of all is, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) […]
Reblogged this on The Ages of Wonder Woman and commented:
135 Uncomfortable Questions Jesus Asked
[…] The questions Jesus asks of His listeners and modern-day readers are likewise direct and simple, hitting straight onto the core of the matter. You can review a list of 135 of these questions here. […]
[…] Take a look at the questions that Jesus asked. […]
[…] via 135 QUESTIONS JESUS ASKED […]
[…] to one count, Jesus asks 135 questions in the gospels. They are among some of the most striking moments in the gospels, including the […]
[…] in such a way that was both thoughtful and thought-provoking. As I recently read in this article 135 questions Jesus asked, “He never asked a question because he needed to know the answer. […]
[…] [5] For example, consider this compilation of 135 questions Jesus asked in the Christian New Testament: https://mondaymorningreview.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/137questionsjesusasked/. […]
This is great!!! In fact there are 307 questions Jesus asked. And there 1,024 question marks in the NT. See:http://teaandtheology.com/book-review-the-307-questions-jesus-asked-and-the-3-he-answered/
138 – I found 3 more:
Have you never read? (Matthew 21:14-16)
Why do you persecute me? (Acts 9:4)
Because you have seen me, you have believed? (John 20:29)
For the last one, NIV puts a comma instead of a question mark but most other translations have a question mark. Check ESV. I also think it’s clear from the greek, its a question.
This is an awesome article. Whatever you did to compile all those questions was certainly worth it. As a Christian I can hear Jesus asking me these same questions. Thank you!
[…] [1] https://mondaymorningreview.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/137questionsjesusasked/ […]
I had questions running in my mind on different life issues. And as I sat to pray I was wondering which scripture to look for. That’s when I thought of finding a few questions that Jesus asked because I remembered Jesus always posed questions to people asking for a miracle or who were seeking Him out. I was blessed finding your post. Thank you for the effort. Many of the questions jumped out but the one that jumped out first was “what is it you want”. so i’m going to sit down and meditate on this. May your ministry continue to thrive.
My prayer and my aim nowadays, is many of the Lord’s creation, will k ow about God more and I wanted to please God, thant my family will feel the everlasting and pouring blessing of our Lord, and let my me and my family will saved in the second coming of the Lord our God.
I have a question.say I had already believe in a religion but one day I discovered I want to be with jesus christ and wanted to change.Is it possible or not
Yes, Jason, it is possible for you to be with Jesus Christ and to change. God gives you the faith to believe in His Son and the power to change. Check out the verse at 2 Corinthians 5:17!
[…] Asking questions isn’t a bad thing, right? Jesus, himself, was a great question asker. […]
I love this.
[…] * list from: https://mondaymorningreview.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/137questionsjesusasked/ […]
I’ve been on a spiritual walk now for a couple Of yearsAnd came to the conclusion that we are in an enclosed ecosystemThat has no room for anything NASA would tell youAnd although controversial I’ve came to a conclusion that there are “Lost ” ScripturesPurposely suppressedLast page in revelation says for those who add to the book I’ll add the plagues of this worldThose who take out of the book I’ll take the name out of the book Of lifeAnd I think that was said because He knew that it would happen, And there are so many questions the Lord has asked That started off by saying “is it Not written in the book of”………. So I pretended like Christ was asking me that question Is every single to say I don’t know Because the books that are in question R not inThe Bible Leading me to wonder and ask why aren’t they in The Bible if They are referenced by the Lord But you can find these books elsewhere unusually very quick it’s obvious why it would have been Taken outBecause they connect dots that make things clearer forming stronger bond and understanding for example the sun and moon are in OUR atmosphere amongst the clouds…
[…] you look at the way Jesus engaged the Pharisees, you see a method being deployed from time to time that those who are familiar with the techniques used in a debate […]
[…] Eric von Atzigen summarizes 135 thoughtful questions Jesus asked in his teaching ministry. Find here the complete list of questions. You can also reach out here. Andrew Mason, an influential small […]
[…] you look at the way Jesus engaged the Pharisees, you see a method being deployed from time to time that those who are familiar with the techniques used in a debate […]