Four Questions (Or: When is a question not a question?)

What would we do without rhetorical questions? It’s been said that a good question is half the answer. The right question at just the right moment has framed more than a few climactic movie scenes. For example, that tense exchange between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men is touched off by the words, “Colonel Jessup, I have just one last question…” By the proper use of questions we learn. By wise questioning we unravel mysteries and resolve seeming paradoxes. And, of course, without that iconic “Oh, I almost forgot… one more thing,” how would Lt. Columbo ever have nabbed all those bad guys?

Honest questions are meant to elicit information and gain understanding. But there are times when questions aren’t questions at all. Sometimes they are meant as a test or a trap; other times they are calculated to make us look foolish in front of others; sometimes questions are used to create division, or to put an abrupt end to discussion. Questions, particularly when emotionally-charged, are often used in a dishonest way to manipulate or to gain a tactical advantage in a debate, often where there’s a crowd listening in.

This morning I’d like to consider four encounters in which questions asked insincerely nevertheless prove useful and instructive for us. The title of this message is “Four Questions (or: When is a question not a question?)” It is a play on the traditional Four Questions that the youngest son recites on Passover. The first of our questions appears, not surprisingly, in Genesis. Please look with me at Genesis chapter 4.

I. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

(implied: “not my problem”) Genesis 4:3-9

It came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Apparently Cain didn’t think so. In fact, he was his brother’s killer. But why didn’t God have regard for Cain’s offering? Over the centuries many have speculated about this. Some suggest that it was because it lacked blood, but there are two major flaws with that view: 1) it presumes a pre-existing commandment to bring blood offerings, and no such commandment existed at that time. Remember, this was voluntary. And, 2) even in the Torah there were offerings commanded that didn’t include blood. So the issue was something other than blood. In context, Cain’s offering seems perfunctory, whereas Abel’s offering is described as the first and best of what was his. Most biblical scholars consider the problem to have been Cain’s attitude.

But let’s consider the question: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” What does this question convey? As you probably inferred, it is not a question at all; it is a statement disavowing personal responsibility for the well-being of someone else. In essence, Cain was saying, “Not my problem!”

But let’s treat Cain’s objection for a moment as though it really was genuine. Are you your brother’s keeper? What is God’s answer? “Yes! Absolutely!” Your brother’s problem is your problem. Your sister’s problem is your problem. He puts it this way in Torah: If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother (Deuteronomy 15:7); and again: You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again (Deuteronomy 22:4).

What brings joy to one member of God’s family brings joy to all. What brings pain or trouble to one member of God’s family brings pain or trouble to all. If it sounds inconvenient, it is. A friend loves at all times – and occasionally at all hours.

Rabbi Paul, writing to the Messianic Community in Philippi, put it this way: Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).

Yeshua declared that if we go out of our way to visit those who are sick or in prison, or open our homes to strangers, give food or clothing to those who are hungry and cold – we are doing those things for Him; and if we refuse to visit people who are sick or in prison, close our doors to strangers, ignore the needs of the hungry – we are refusing to do those things for Him. He went on to say that it’s precisely that generous giving of ourselves or, on the other hand, that selfish miserliness, that will determine whether we are welcomed into the Kingdom or turned away at the door ourselves. He wasn’t saying that we can earn our way to Heaven. What He was saying is that our actions or our indifference is evidence as to whether we believe or disbelieve. While it’s true that Adonai is the Great Shepherd of the Flock, we are considered under-shepherds. Yes, you are your brother’s keeper.

II. “Who is my neighbor?”

(implied: minimalism) Luke 10:25-29

And a Torah teacher stood up and put Him (Yeshua) to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Torah? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But wishing to justify himself, he said to Yeshua, “And who is my neighbor?”

Once again we have someone asking a question, having no interest in the answer. In this case, it’s really more of a challenge. This Torah-expert had already answered his own previous question, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” That’s a good question. In fact, it’s the ultimate question! But he didn’t ask because he felt he needed to learn. We’re told specifically that he asked as a way of putting Messiah to the test. Yeshua skillfully put the question right back to him and the Torah teacher actually gave a very good answer:“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” The first quote is from Deuteronomy 6:5, which is part of the Shema. The second is from Leviticus 19:18. So, theoretically Yeshua and the Torah-expert agreed.

But the Torah-expert was determined not to be in agreement with Yeshua, and so he asks a follow-up question meant to create tension and conflict. “And who is my neighbor?”Maybe he was hoping that Yeshua would say “Everyone” so that many in that Jewish audience would be turned off at the thought of having to love Gentiles, and would stop following Him. But the Torah teacher miscalculated in at least three ways:

  1. Yeshua wasn’t trying to build a big following
  1. Yeshua wasn’t afraid of controversy or of losing popularity
  1. Yeshua was prepared for insincere questions

Yeshua’s answer blew that Torah-expert (and no doubt many in the crowd) away. Here’s how He replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”

The reason that answer blew them away is that the Judeans hated the Samaritans. The Samaritan people were the result of intermarriage that took place between Jews and Assyrians going back to the captivity of the Northern Kingdom Israel in 722 BCE. In the days of Nehemiah, they opposed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and from that time on, the two groups regarded each other with contempt and suspicion, this in spite of the fact that both Jews and Samaritans believed in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and observed the Levitical system. So when Yeshua used a Samaritan as an example of neighborliness, it probably incensed His audience.

So regardless the motive for asking, God’s answer to the question: “Who is my neighbor?” is: “Everyone – including your enemies!” You know, the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ is the passage of Scripture politicians who don’t otherwise read the Bible almost always refer to when courting the religious vote and they’re asked what part of the Bible they like the most; maybe because very few of them actually read the Bible. It’s an easy answer, but the Sermon on the Mount, as we’ve seen of late, is a very difficult teaching!

One of the things Yeshua said in that sermon was, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven… For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than anyone else? Do not even the heathen do the same?” (Matthew 5:43-47)

But beyond the Torah-expert’s motives, there is an attitude that lurks behind the question, “Who is my neighbor?” That attitude is minimalism. You see, we’re all very good at loving ourselves. We watch out for ourselves, we address our own needs, we guard our privacy, our time, our money. But if we’re supposed to love our ‘neighbor’ as we love ourselves, we may really be asking: “How little can I get away with?” “What is the least amount I’ll have to part with, or the least amount of inconvenience I’ll have to deal with, and still make the cut?”

Messiah Yeshua’s answers are dangerous because if we would heed them, it will require a lot of us. It forces us out of our comfort zone and disdains spiritual mediocrity. Most human beings are unprepared to make such sacrifices, even for friends, let alone strangers or, heaven-forbid, enemies. Who is my neighbor? Whoa boy! Faced with this level of expectation – the demand on our time, talent and treasure – our natural inclination would be to recoil from it.

But then again, no one ever said following Yeshua would be convenient or manageable or safe. Are you sure you’re up to it? Truth is, none of us are capable in our own natural strength and resolve of living up to such a standard. The reason we call it the Gospel – the Good News, is that God desires to do for us what we could never do for ourselves. He declares us ‘kosher’ – clean and acceptable to Him, when we put our trust in the perfect life and accomplishment of Messiah Yeshua, who became our ultimate Yom Kippur sacrifice for sin.

III. “What is truth?” (John 18:33-38)

(implied: cynicism – “There is no transcendent reality!”)

Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Yeshua and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Yeshua answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?”

Yeshua answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish rulers; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Yeshua answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”

Let me give the answer to Pilate’s first question before we consider the second. The answer is “Yes – Yeshua is the King of the Jews!” As a matter of fact, He is the King over all nations. He is the King over all the kings of those nations. When Yeshua told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world, He wasn’t referring to the planet, because He will reign over this planet. The word ko,smoj in this context refers to the system of corrupt human governments that presently occupy the world.

Think about the former ruler in North Korea, Kim Jong il. People joked about his obsession with Hollywood movies (he has a collection of over 20,000 movies on DVD) and his grandiose claims about how wonderful life is in North Korea. But in fact he was a despicable, ruthless tyrant. Among his atrocities: the forced labor camp, known as “Camp 22” (one of more than a dozen such camps) located in the northeast corner of the country, where thousands of men and women accused of political crimes are still held. A ‘political crime’ under his regime meant saying anything bad about him, or even being accused of saying anything against him. Eyewitness testimony has emerged about the torturing and murdering of prisoners in these camps, including by chemical experimentation and gassing. He also had a bevy of concubines. Apparently whenever he was at an event and saw a beautiful woman, he had her kidnapped. It isn’t known how many children he fathered with them, but I marveled that there was no outcry from the National Organization of Women. He also amassed quite a litany of titles for himself, a sampling includes, “Guiding Star of the 21st Century”, “Invincible and All-Triumphant General”, and, “Highest Incarnation of the Revolutionary Comradely Love”.

And he isn’t alone. The history of the world is replete with twisted and cold-hearted dictators, tyrants and thugs who have oppressed their people and sought to take over the world. When Messiah declared that His Kingdom is not of this world, he meant that it is not like this world’s kingdoms. It is of another category altogether.

Yeshua has no intention of reforming them. He will replace them! His Kingdom will be the only one, as the prophet Zechariah declared, bayom Hahu yihyeh Adonai Echad… In that day the Lord will be the only One! And though His kingdom isn’t yet established physically on Earth, that Day is coming, and He will rule over all peoples in justice and righteousness. I would hasten to add that his rule will be headquartered in Jerusalem. This is, after all, a Jewish King we’re talking about!

Now let’s consider Pilate’s second question: “What is truth?” What did he mean by that question-that-isn’t-really-a-question? What he was really saying was, “There is no transcendent reality!” It was a statement borne of cynicism. Pilate might well have argued that truth is defined by those in power. Now he may have asked with the wrong intent, but isn’t it the $64,000 question? He himself may not have believed it, but the question implies the existence of absolute fact. For that matter, ‘truth’ is a synonym for the word ‘fact’. The words truth and fact refer to things as they really are; not as we think they should be or as we wish them to be.

Truth is our friend, even when it is unpleasant. Truth is unconcerned about the opinions of men. Truth doesn’t waver, nor does it come and go out of fashion with the passage of time. Like love, truth endures. Nor is it necessary to talk about ‘real truth’ – that would be redundant. Truth, by definition, is what is real. And if we’ll act on it, we’ll be better off for it.

Pilate asked “What is truth?” as Truth Incarnate stood right before him! He could ask that question so cavalierly because he had nothing invested in the answer. You see, truth is often inconvenient (just like loving our neighbor as ourselves), and he was unprepared to deal squarely with it. Yeshua Himself declared “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Those would be the most audacious words spoken in all of human history if they weren’t true.

If you are in the market for truth, you will find it – provided there are no caveats attached. If you are prepared to embrace the truth, no matter the cost, you are a prime candidate for eternal life. But just as soon as you attach conditions, you have departed from the search.

  • If it has to be comfortable, you are no longer in the market for truth.
  • If it has to be convenient, you are no longer in the market for truth.
  • If it cannot jeopardize your good standing with other people, you are no longer in the market for truth.

Truth will not get out of the way for your convenience. Our God is a God of truth, and if you are wise, you want to be on the side of the truth. There are truths (facts) in life and then there is THE truth. The sum of it can be found in two passages also from John’s Account of the Life of Yeshua. The first tells the ugly truth about our depraved condition.

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil (John 3:19).

The second tells the magnificent truth about God’s gracious solution to our dilemma.

“I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life!” (John 8:12).

Let’s move on to the 4th of our Four Questions that weren’t really questions. It is found in 2 Peter.

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4).

IV. “Where is the promise of His coming?”

(implied: “It’s all a sham!”)

Compared with some of the things I’ve heard out of people’s mouths, this seems almost tame! Once again, it isn’t a question seeking an answer. It is a statement of unbelief, but really it’s more than that. It is, as Peter tells us, a form of mockery. It’s a way of poking fun at you for your beliefs. If this kind of thing happens to you, rejoice. You’re in good company! I’m sure Abraham endured his share of ridicule when asked to explain why he was leaving Ur of the Chaldeans. Noah was undoubtedly the laughingstock of his neighborhood… right up until the 17th day of the 2nd month of his 600th year. Lot was subject to malicious scoffing from his Sodomite neighbors on account of his belief in this invisible God who demanded moral behavior.

So if you are laughed at or mocked for believing that Messiah Yeshua rose from the dead and will return a second time to planet Earth, endure it with patience. Your reward in Heaven will be great. Or would you rather be in the shoes of those who stayed behind in Ur, or who didn’t make it onto the ark, or who didn’t leave Sodom?

In fact, those who say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” are in the dangerous position of actually calling Yeshua a liar. He promised He would return and gave us the signs to watch for it. They are implying that either He was a misguided, mistaken fool, or that He deliberately lied to the disciples.

I always wonder about people’s motives. Perhaps what lies beneath such mockery is the subtle desire to discredit Yeshua. After all, if they can show that He was wrong, then maybe they won’t have to face up to the moral demands of the New Covenant. Maybe, like me 35 years ago, they really just don’t want to have to give up their loose lifestyle, or live, as they perceive it, by a set of “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots”. Others may be motivated by peer-pressure. 2,000 years later faith in Jesus is still considered off-limits to Jews. So if Yeshua can be discredited in some way, then they won’t have to follow Him and deal with the ridicule and rejection from family and friends.

Peter actually gives us the reason for what seems a long delay in Yeshua’s return in verse 9, though the scoffer is unlikely to read this: The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

From the perspective of biblical history it is a frightening thing to be in the shoes of a scoffer. God’s judgment will come upon the unrepentant, and at that point it is too late to ‘switch teams’. Yeshua forewarned us that His return will be at a time when no one is expecting Him – as startling as a thief breaking in at night! So we need to be careful not to take the insults to our faith personally or to react harshly, but at the same time to speak truthfully and warn people of the judgment to come. It requires discernment and some forethought. It isn’t wrong to anticipate common objections and to have an answer ready to give. But you must remember that not all questions are questions, and only those asked in sincerity are deserving of an answer.

The Scriptures are filled with examples of questions asked insincerely. Some asked with a hostile agenda. In fact, there are enough of these questions-that-aren’t-really-questions to occupy many more Bible studies and sermons, and maybe some of you will be the ones to write them. Here are a few examples:

A sampling of other ‘non-question-questions

“Who is the Lord?” Exodus 5:2 (Pharaoh)

“By what power or in what name have you done this?” Acts 4:7 (Sanhedrin)

“Is it lawful to heal on Shabbat?” Matt. 12:9-10 (hostile synagogue crowd)

“How did He open your eyes…?” John 9 (Pharisees)

“In the resurrection, whose wife will she be?” Luke 20:28-33 (Sadducees)

“Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?” Luke 20:21-22 (chief priests/scribes)

Sometimes people will ask you questions, having no interest whatsoever in receiving, let alone believing, your answers. Learn to recognize insincerity when it comes to you. Learn to deal wisely with people who have a hidden agenda.

Beware of people who come to you with attack questions – whose purpose is only to make you look bad. Questions like, “Are you saying that all the Jewish people who died in the holocaust are going to hell?” They’re trying to get you to either contradict the Bible, or to make you look cold-hearted in front of others if you maintain the biblical teaching that everyone who dies without Yeshua will go to Hell.

There are many examples of ridiculous questions, attack questions, trap questions questions meant to stump you, but for the sake of time, let me give you a principle to live by when it comes to insincere questions:

Yeshua never gave a straight answer to a crooked question… and neither should you!

Proverbs 26:4-5 says, Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Answer a fool as his folly deserves, so that he not be wise in his own eyes.

We need to be good ambassadors for Yeshua. A good ambassador knows when and how to respond with wisdom and gentleness to legitimate, sincere questions. And a good ambassador knows when and how to respond shrewdly to scoffers and to those uninterested in answers. May the God of Heaven, who raised up Yeshua from the dead, and who will indeed send Him back to Earth to judge the living and the dead, give us wisdom and discernment, as we confront an unbelieving world with the bad news and with the Good News.

Amid the bogus and insincere questions people might ask, there is a question that ought to be asked; a question of such weight and consequence that it has echoed down the corridors of time; a question first asked by Yeshua, and a question we should continue to ask: “Who do you say the Son of Man is?”

Who is Yeshua?

This is a question every human being needs to ask and answer. And you need to get the answer right.