Big Questions

  

When the Questions Become Ours

Matthew 22:15–46

Questions can open doors. They can help us examine our assumptions and discover truths we might otherwise miss.

Questions can also become traps.

In Matthew 22, three questions are directed toward Jesus. They are intended to test, manipulate, or discredit him. Jesus refuses to remain confined within them. He turns each question into a question for us.

Then Jesus asks a fourth question—and all the others converge upon it.

This is a brief introduction to the message. For the synopsis, complete article, full sermon, historical background, Gospel comparisons, and subscriber Deep Dive, visit Bible Chat on YouTube or Substack:

ttps://tomsims.substack.com/p/when-the-questions-become-ours

Who owns what?

The Pharisees and Herodians ask Jesus whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.

They want a yes-or-no answer. Either answer could create trouble.

Jesus asks to see the coin.

“Whose image is this, and whose inscription?”

“Caesar’s.”

“Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”

The coin bears Caesar’s image, but we bear the image of God.

Their political trap becomes our question:

Who owns what—and to whom do I ultimately belong?

How powerful is God?

The Sadducees do not believe in resurrection, but they ask Jesus an exaggerated question about resurrection.

Jesus tells them:

“You are wrong because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”

They know enough Scripture to construct an argument, but they underestimate the God revealed through Scripture.

We can know the verses and still underestimate the God of the verses.

Their theological argument becomes our question:

How powerful is God—and where have I confined God to the boundaries of what I can presently understand?

What matters most?

An expert in the law asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest.

Jesus answers with two:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

And:

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love is not a sentimental addition to the law. Love reveals what the law is for.

The moral question becomes ours:

What matters most—and what does love require of me now?

Who is Jesus?

Finally, Jesus asks:

“What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

They answer, “The son of David.”

That answer is correct, but incomplete. The Messiah is David’s son, yet David calls him Lord.

All the questions now converge upon this one:

Who is Jesus—and what will we do about him?

If Jesus is Lord, Caesar is not.

If Jesus is Lord, death does not have the final word.

If Jesus is Lord, love for God and neighbor must govern our lives.

Watch the full sermon and Continue the study on Substack

The complete Bible Chat post includes:

• A less-than-three-minute video synopsis

• The full written reflection

• The complete sermon

• Background on the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians

• The reasons behind their particular questions

• Comparisons with Mark and Luke

• Links to the Old Testament passages Jesus cites

• Individual and small-group study questions

• A subscriber Deep Dive video

**When the Questions Become Ours | Matthew 22:15–46**

https://tomsims.substack.com/p/when-the-questions-become-ours Three questions are brought to Jesus: a political question about taxes, a theological question about resurrection, and a moral question about the greatest commandment. Each question was intended to test or trap him. Jesus transforms them into questions for us: Who owns our ultimate allegiance? How powerful is God? What matters most? Then Jesus asks the searching question behind all the others: Who is the Messiah? The discussion can no longer remain political, theological, or theoretical. It becomes personal: Who is Jesus, and what will we do about him? **Three questions for reflection:** 1. What part of your life have you not fully given back to God? 2. Where might you be limiting God’s power to the boundaries of your present understanding? 3. If love for God and neighbor matters most, what action is that love asking you to take now? Subscribe for sermons, Bible studies, discussion questions, and deeper explorations of Scripture: https://toms.substack.com Connect with Pastor Tom Sims: https://linktr.ee/tomsims #Matthew22 #JesusQuestions #WhoIsJesus #GreatestCommandment #ResurrectionHope #ChristianLiving #BibleStudy #Sermon #BibleChat #PastorTomSims