Yesterday, Jesus asked questions. Today, we have answers. Let’s dive right in!
Q1 – Will he not much more clothe you? (Matt. 6:30)
To address this question we must hear what Jesus says before it and, more importantly, what He says after it. Before it He says, “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven will he not much more clothe you?” Jesus is making it clear that God is in control of all creation. So much in control that He even pays attention to the grass that grows. The Father created us in His image. Therefore, if He pays that much detail to nature, would He not pay even more attention to His children? What Jesus says after this question is a rebuke for us all. “Will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” It can be argued that faith is the main theme of God’s Word, and here Jesus tells us after asking His question that it's our faith in the heavenly Father that will guide us through our anxious times.
Q2 – Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
Jesus then tells us what David did – “how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” Jesus taught that what is your heart is more important than your actions (read the beatitudes). Our motives are clearly important to our heavenly Father. The Pharisees focused on the letter of the law, whereas Jesus focused on the spirit of the law. The Pharisees believed it was better for someone to go hungry on the Sabbath than to work for some food. Jesus taught that it was better to feed the hungry than to obey the Sabbath.
Q3 – I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it? (Luke 6:9)
Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath and made the religious leaders furious. Similar to question two, Jesus is questioning hearts. What is the right thing to do? Is it better to follow the law and do evil, or break the law and do good? Jesus clearly teaches that what we are to do is good - always. The laws are for good and for good only.
Q4 – “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?” (John 3:10)
Jesus is teaching Nicodemus, a respected Jewish religious leader. What is it that Nicodemus does not understand? “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus did not understand the fundamental idea of two births. Our first earthly birth, and our second spiritual birth: being born into God’s family. Nicodemus could not understand this because, at the time, all those born Jewish were (in their minds) born into God’s family. God’s Word clearly teaches us that no physical birth has any eternal salvation power – only a secondary birth, born through the acceptance, repentance, and reconciliation by the sacrifice of God’s Son, Jesus.
Q5 – 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? (Matt. 7:3)
A beautiful double question that fits perfectly together. Why do we look at the speck (judge others)? It's to take the focus off ourselves. It's so much easier to judge the faults of others than it is to reflect on our own. It's hard to address our own faults, and Jesus reminds us that our faults are like logs compared to the faults of others, which are like specks. Jesus also says, “And then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” There is an insinuation from Jesus that once we deal with ourselves, we still don't have the right to judge others. Rather, we are to help others deal with their sin (we can see more clearly to take the speck out of our brother’s eye).
Be blessed by Jesus' teachings through God’s Word today!