Question

 He answered them, "I also will ask you a question. Now tell me,
Luke 20:3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.20.3.ESV

Jesus often asked questions. In fact, He often responded to questions with questions, as in this instant. Why did He not always give a straight answer? Because He perceives the motives of the questioners.

If someone is sincere, often Jesus would give them a straight answer, although often it was in the form of a story to illustrate His point. When the disciples asked Him if many would be saved, He simply replied to make every effort to enter through the narrow gate onto the narrow way, because only a few will find it. His answers might not always be direct, but they're always appropriate.

The religious leaders were trying to catch Jesus out. They were trying to frame Him. They would seemingly succeed when they condemned Him for blasphemy, and treason against the Romans.

In this verse however, Jesus's time had not yet come. So He turned their question on its head with an unanswerable question of His own. We would do well to learn from Christ's approach to not always feel we have to directly answer those who question us.

'Most Wise God, may we too have wisdom to reply to those who question us. Forbid that we should ever try and catch You out, in Jesus' name, amen'

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