This post was inspired by the research of Hal Gregersen, Executive Director of the Leadership Center at MIT. In his 2018 book, Questions Are the Answer, he asks, “Has it ever occurred to you before now that some people are better questioners than others, and that this is a learnable skill?” In his essay, “Let Him Ask of God,” (co-written with Mark E. Mendenhall), he stated that questions are a critical element of the Savior’s leadership style. “He constantly led others to the light with soul-shaping, authentic questions. In fact, one of every nine recorded statements by the Savior in the New Testament involved a question.”
This week, I reviewed and categorized the 190 questions asked by the Savior, as recorded in the four Gospels and 3 Nephi. You can read the entire list of questions with my categories below, but first, let me comment on some of the ways the Savior used questions:
1. As a memory aid
Many of Jesus’ questions invite his listeners to remember things they already knew. “What went ye out into the wilderness for to see?” He asked of the people who had listened to the preaching of John the Baptist (Luke 7:24). “Do ye not…remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?” He asked His disciples when their faith wavered (Matthew 16:9). And numerous times, both in the New Testament and in the Book of Mormon, He asks some version of, “Have ye not read this scripture?” before quoting a passage from the Old Testament. (See, for example, Mark 12:10-11.)
In these cases, the purpose of the question was to bring to the front of his listeners’ minds truths they already knew but had apparently forgotten.
2. To make connections
Many of the Savior’s questions, like many of His parables, served to close the gap between His listeners’ experience and the deeper spiritual principles which they found elusive. To illustrate God’s love for us, He simply asked His listeners to reflect on their feelings toward their own children: “What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” (Matthew 7:9). To help His listeners understand the propriety of healing on the Sabbath, He asked how they would treat their own animals: “What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?” (Matthew 12:11).
He also introduced some of His parables with questions, such as “Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?” (Luke 13:20).
3. To invite affirmations of faith
On some occasions, the Savior gave His listeners an opportunity to express their belief by asking simple questions. “Whom say ye that I am?” He asked His disciples (Matthew 16:15). “Will ye not now return unto me…that I may heal you?” He asked the Nephites and Lamanites (3 Nephi 9:13).
In this same category are a number of questions like “What wilt thou?” “What seek ye?” or my favorite: “Wilt thou be made whole?” (John 5:6). Time and time again, the Savior conveys that miracles come only after people demonstrate their faith.
Other questions which on the surface appear to be simple requests for information might have this same underlying purpose. For example, “Who touched my clothes?” (Mark 5:30) and “How many loaves have ye?” (Mark 6:38).
4. To provide corrective feedback
Many of the Savior’s questions serve as words of reproof. These were likely difficult to hear. But by framing them as questions instead of assertions, the Savior may have opened the door for the recipients to exercise their agency, self-reflect, and course correct. Here are a few examples of these exacting questions:
- “What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” (Matthew 26:40)
- “Why doth this generation seek after a sign?” (Mark 8:12)
- “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?” (John 3:10)
- “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25)
5. To encourage deeper thought
Many of the Savior’s questions prompted His listeners to think more deeply than they otherwise would have. This could be as simple as observing things more closely: “Seest thou these great buildings?” (Mark 13:2). Or it could be as challenging as reframing their basic paradigms: “Who is my mother, or my brethren?” (Mark 3:33). Some of His questions were intended to prompt soul-searching and deep spiritual commitment: “What manner of men ought ye to be?” He asked His disciples on the American continent (3 Nephi 27:27).
Some of the most difficult questions came as He explained His mission to them. “The cup which my Father hath given me,” He asked Peter, “shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11). And to the two disciples He accompanied on the road to Emmaus, He asked, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26).
Conclusion and Commitment
Jesus used questions effectively. He used them to help His listeners connect His messages with their prior knowledge and experience. He used them to invite His listeners to exercise faith and to repent. And He used them to motivate His listeners to dig deeper and understand the gospel more fully.
Today and going forward, I will strive to emulate the Savior in asking good questions of myself and others.
Questions of Jesus quoted in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and 3 Nephi
| Number | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John | 3 Nephi | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? (2:49) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 2 | if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? (5:13) | Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? (9:50) | Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (14:34) | if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? (12:13) | Connections | |
| 3 | Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? (4:21) | do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? (12:15) | Connections | |||
| 4 | And while ye are in prison can ye pay even one senine? (12:26) | Connections | ||||
| 5 | if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? (5:46) | For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? (6:32) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 6 | And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? (6:33) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 7 | And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? (6:34) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 8 | if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (5:47) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 9 | Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (6:25) | Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (13:25) | Encourage deeper thought | |||
| 10 | Are ye not much better than they? (6:26) | how much more are ye better than the fowls? (12:24) | Are ye not much better than they? (13:26) | Connections | ||
| 11 | Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (6:27) | And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? (12:25) | Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (13:27) | Connections | ||
| 12 | If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (12:26) | Connections | ||||
| 13 | And why take ye thought for raiment? (6:28) | And why take ye thought for raiment? (13:28) | Connections | |||
| 14 | If God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? (6:30) | If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (12:28) | Connections | |||
| 15 | Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? (6:39) | Connections | ||||
| 16 | Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (7:3) | And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (6:41) | And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (14:3) | Connections | ||
| 17 | Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? (7:4) | Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (6:42) | Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye — and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? (14:4) | Connections | ||
| 18 | what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? (7:9) | If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? (11:11) | what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? (14:9) | Connections | ||
| 19 | Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (7:10) | or If he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? (11:11) | Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (14:10) | Connections | ||
| 20 | Or If he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (11:12) | Connections | ||||
| 21 | If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (7:11) | If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (11:13) | If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (14:11) | Connections | ||
| 22 | Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (7:16) | Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (14:16) | Connections | |||
| 23 | And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (6:46) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 24 | Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? (8:26) | Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (4:40) | Where is your faith? (8:25) | Provide corrective feedback | ||
| 25 | Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? (9:4) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 26 | Why reason ye these things in your hearts? (2:8) | What reason ye in your hearts? (5:22) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 27 | whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? (9:5) | Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? (2:9) | Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? (5:23) | Encourage deeper thought | ||
| 28 | Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? (9:14) | Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? (2:19) | Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? (5:34) | Connections | ||
| 29 | Believe ye that I am able to do this? (9:28) | Invitation: request an affirmation of belief | ||||
| 30 | If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (10:25) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 31 | Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? (10:29) | Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? (12:6) | Connections | |||
| 32 | What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? (11:7) | What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? (7:24) | Memory aid: prior experiences | |||
| 33 | what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? (11:8) | But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? (7:25) | Memory aid: prior experiences | |||
| 34 | what went ye out for to see? A prophet? (11:9) | But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? (7:26) | Memory aid: prior experiences | |||
| 35 | whereunto shall I liken this generation? (11:16) | Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? (7:31) | Connections: setting up a parable | |||
| 36 | Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? (12:3-4) | Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? (2:25-26) | Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone? (6:3-4) | Memory aid: scripture | ||
| 37 | Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? (12:5) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 38 | Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? (13:15) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 39 | And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? (13:16) | Provide corrective feedback: defend someone | ||||
| 40 | Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? (14:3) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 41 | What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? (12:11) | Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? (14:5) | Connections | |||
| 42 | Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? (3:4) | Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? (6:9) | Encourage deeper thought | |||
| 43 | How much then is a man better than a sheep? (12:12) | Connections | ||||
| 44 | If Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? (12:26) | How can Satan cast out Satan? (3:23) | If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? (11:18) | Encourage deeper thought | ||
| 45 | if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? (12:27) | And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? (11:19) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 46 | how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? (12:29) | Connections | ||||
| 47 | how can ye, being evil, speak good things? (12:34) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 48 | Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? (12:48) | Who is my mother, or my brethren? (3:33) | Encourage deeper thought | |||
| 49 | Have ye understood all these things? (13:51) | Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? (4:13) | Encourage deeper thought | |||
| 50 | Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? (13:18) | Connections: setting up a parable | ||||
| 51 | Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? (4:30) | Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? (13:20)\ | Connections: setting up a parable | |||
| 52 | What is thy name? (5:9) | What is thy name? (8:30) | Request information | |||
| 53 | Who touched my clothes? (5:30) | Who touched me? (8:45) | Request information | |||
| 54 | Why make ye this ado, and weep? (5:39) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 55 | O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (14:31) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 56 | Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? (15:3) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 57 | Are ye also yet without understanding? (15:16) | Are ye so without understanding also? (7:18-19) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 58 | Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? (15:17) | Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? (7:18-19) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 59 | How many loaves have ye? (15:34) | How many loaves have ye? (6:38) | Request information | |||
| 60 | How many loaves have ye? (8:5) | Request information | ||||
| 61 | I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already kindled? (12:49) | Encourage deeper thought: explain his mission | ||||
| 62 | Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? (12:51) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 63 | O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (16:3) | Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time? (12:56) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 64 | Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? (12:57) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 65 | Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? (13:2) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 66 | Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (13:4) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 67 | Why doth this generation seek after a sign? (8:12) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 68 | O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? (16:8) | Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? (8:17) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 69 | Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? (8:18) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 70 | Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (16:9) | When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? (8:19) | Memory aid: prior experiences | |||
| 71 | Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? (16:10) | And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? (8:20) | Memory aid: prior experiences | |||
| 72 | How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? (16:11) | How is it that ye do not understand? (8:21) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 73 | Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (16:13) | Whom do men say that I am? (8:27) | Whom say the people that I am? (9:18) | Request information | ||
| 74 | But whom say ye that I am? (16:15) | But whom say ye that I am? (8:29) | But whom say ye that I am? (9:20) | Invitation: request an affirmation of belief | ||
| 75 | what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (16:26) | For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (8:36-37) | For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (9:25) | Encourage deeper thought | ||
| 76 | What question ye with them? (9:16) | Request information | ||||
| 77 | O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? (17:17) | O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? (9:19) | O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? (9:41) | Provide corrective feedback | ||
| 78 | What is written in the law? how readest thou? (10:26) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 79 | Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? (10:36) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 80 | Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? (11:40) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 81 | How long is it ago since this came unto him? (9:21) | Request information | ||||
| 82 | What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? (9:33) | Encourage deeper thought: follow up | ||||
| 83 | What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? (17:25) | Connections | ||||
| 84 | For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? (14:28) | Connections | ||||
| 85 | Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? (14:31) | Connections | ||||
| 86 | How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? (18:12) | What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? (15:4) | Connections | |||
| 87 | Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? (15:8) | Connections | ||||
| 88 | If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (16:11) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 89 | And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? (16:12) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 90 | But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? (17:7) | Connections | ||||
| 91 | And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? (17:8) | Connections | ||||
| 92 | Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? (17:9) | Connections | ||||
| 93 | Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? (17:17) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 94 | Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (18:8) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 95 | What did Moses command you? (10:3) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 96 | Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (19:4-5) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 97 | Why callest thou me good? (19:17) | Why callest thou me good? (10:18) | Why callest thou me good? (18:19) | Provide corrective feedback | ||
| 98 | What wilt thou? (20:21) | What would ye that I should do for you? (10:36) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | |||
| 99 | Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? (20:22) | can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? (10:38) | Provide corrective feedback | |||
| 100 | What will ye that I shall do unto you? (20:32) | What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? (10:51) | What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? (18:41) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | ||
| 101 | Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? (11:17) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 102 | have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? (21:16) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 103 | The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? (21:25) | The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? (11:30) | The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? (20:4) | Encourage deeper thought | ||
| 104 | what think ye? (21:28) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 105 | Whether of them twain did the will of his father? (21:31) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 106 | When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? (21:40) | What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? (12:9) | Encourage deeper thought | |||
| 107 | Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (21:42) | And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? (12:10-11) | What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? (20:17) | Memory aid: scripture | ||
| 108 | Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (22:18) | Why tempt ye me? (12:15) | Why tempt ye me? (20:23) | Provide corrective feedback | ||
| 109 | Whose is this image and superscription? (22:20) | Whose is this image and superscription? (12:16) | Whose image and superscription hath it? (20:24) | Encourage deeper thought: observation | ||
| 110 | Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? (12:24) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 111 | have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? (22:31-32) | have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? (12:26) | Memory aid: scripture | |||
| 112 | What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? (22:42) | How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David? (12:35) | How say they that Christ is David’s son? (20:41) | Encourage deeper thought | ||
| 113 | How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? (22:43-45) | David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? (12:37) | David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son? (20:44) | Encourage deeper thought | ||
| 114 | whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (23:17) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 115 | whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? (23:19) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 116 | Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (23:33) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 117 | See ye not all these things? (24:2) | Seest thou these great buildings? (13:2) | Encourage deeper thought: observation | |||
| 118 | Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? (24:45) | Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? (12:42) | Encourage deeper thought | |||
| 119 | which of them will love him most? (7:42) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 120 | Why trouble ye the woman? (26:10) | Let her alone; why trouble ye her? (14:6) | Seest thou this woman? (7:44) | Provide corrective feedback: defend someone | ||
| 121 | whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? (22:27) | Connections | ||||
| 122 | When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? (22:35) | Memory aid: prior experiences | ||||
| 123 | What, could ye not watch with me one hour? (26:40) | sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? (14:37) | Why sleep ye? (22:46) | Provide corrective feedback | ||
| 124 | Friend, wherefore art thou come? (26:50) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | ||||
| 125 | Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? (26:53) | Invitation: asking listener to imagine a miracle | ||||
| 126 | But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (26:54) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 127 | betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? (22:48) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 128 | Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? (26:55) | Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me? (14:48) | Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? (22:53) | Provide corrective feedback | ||
| 129 | Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (27:46) | Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (15:34) | Prayer | |||
| 130 | For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? (23:31) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 131 | What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? (24:17) | Request information | ||||
| 132 | What things? (24:19) | Request information | ||||
| 133 | Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? (24:26) | Encourage deeper thought: explain his mission | ||||
| 134 | Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? (24:38) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 135 | Have ye here any meat? (24:41) | Request information | ||||
| 136 | What seek ye? (1:38) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | ||||
| 137 | Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? (1:50) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 138 | Woman, what have I to do with thee? (2:4) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 139 | Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (3:10) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 140 | If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (3:12) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 141 | Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? (4:35) | Connections | ||||
| 142 | Wilt thou be made whole? (5:6) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | ||||
| 143 | How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? (5:44) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 144 | But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (5:47) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 145 | Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? (6:5) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 146 | Doth this offend you? (6:61) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 147 | What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? (6:62) | Invitation: asking listener to imagine a miracle | ||||
| 148 | Will ye also go away? (6:67) | Invitation: request an affirmation of commitment | ||||
| 149 | Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (6:70) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 150 | Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? (7:19) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 151 | If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? (7:23) | Connections | ||||
| 152 | Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? (8:10) | Request information | ||||
| 153 | Why do ye not understand my speech? (8:43) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 154 | Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? (8:46) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 155 | Dost thou believe on the Son of God? (9:35) | Invitation: request an affirmation of belief | ||||
| 156 | Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? (10:32) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 157 | Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? (10:34) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 158 | Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? (10:36) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 159 | Are there not twelve hours in the day? (11:9) | Connections | ||||
| 160 | Believest thou this? (11:26) | Invitation: request an affirmation of belief | ||||
| 161 | Where have ye laid him? (11:34) | Request information | ||||
| 162 | Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (11:40) | Memory aid: prior experiences | ||||
| 163 | Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? (12:27) | Encourage deeper thought: explain his mission | ||||
| 164 | Know ye what I have done to you? (13:12) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 165 | Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? (13:38) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 166 | Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? (14:9) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 167 | how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? (14:9) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 168 | Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? (14:10) | Invitation: request an affirmation of belief | ||||
| 169 | Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? (16:19) | Encourage deeper thought: follow up | ||||
| 170 | Do ye now believe? (16:31) | Invitation: request an affirmation of belief | ||||
| 171 | Whom seek ye? (18:4) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | ||||
| 172 | Whom seek ye? (18:7) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | ||||
| 173 | the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (18:11) | Encourage deeper thought: explain his mission | ||||
| 174 | Why askest thou me? (18:21) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 175 | If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? (18:23) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 176 | Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? (18:34) | Request information | ||||
| 177 | Children, have ye any meat? (21:5) | Request information | ||||
| 178 | Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?… Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?… Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? (21:15-17) | Invitation: request an affirmation of commitment | ||||
| 179 | If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? (21:22-23) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 180 | O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? (9:13) | Invitation: offer to heal | ||||
| 181 | Have ye any that are sick among you?… Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? (17:7) | Invitation: offer to heal | ||||
| 182 | Was it not so? (23:9) | Memory aid: prior experiences | ||||
| 183 | How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them? (23:11) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 184 | What will ye that I shall give unto you? (27:2) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | ||||
| 185 | why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing? (27:4) | Provide corrective feedback | ||||
| 186 | Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? (27:5) | Memory aid: scripture | ||||
| 187 | And how be it my church save it be called in my name? (27:8) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 188 | what manner of men ought ye to be? (27:27) | Encourage deeper thought | ||||
| 189 | What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father? (28:1) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire | ||||
| 190 | What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father? (28:4) | Invitation: asking listener what they desire |
Wow! What an interesting study! Very insightful!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
While I was searching for missionary work examples online I found this blog. I enjoyed reading your blog I am so happy your posts are easy to understand.
Thank for for taking time to tell us your thoughts.
Thank you for the comment! I’m glad you find my posts easy to understand. Thanks for letting me know!