Answering God's Questions

For the discipleship course I am leading, we typically read through a chapter or two in a Gospel.  With the current course we are reading through the book of Matthew, and I enjoy how themes flow and build through each chapter.  For instance, one chapter may emphasise the power of Jesus over everything - over sin, every sickness, disease, demon, and even a raging sea!  I had a bit of an epiphany as I read through Matthew 22 recently, and it is wonderful God has ordained these moments for those who trust in Him.  The revelation of God is not only for prophets or pastors, but for every Christian who seeks the LORD and trembles at His Word.

Matthew 22 begins with Jesus speaking a parable to multitudes which included priests and Pharisees.  He spoke of a king who invited people to the wedding of his son.  Those who were initially invited made light of the invitation and others persecuted and killed his messengers.  Enraged, the king destroyed the murders and commanded his servants to invite any person they could find to the wedding.  All kinds of people - both good and bad - came as guests at the wedding.  Matthew 22:11-14 concludes the parable:  "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ¹² 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. ¹³"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' ¹⁴ "For many are invited, but few are chosen."  We are not told why or how the man entered the wedding feast without the appropriate attire, but the fact he was speechless implies he was without excuse.  He should have been dressed for the occasion and for his error he was cast out.

On the heels of this parable, Matthew 22 details three separate occasions when the religious elite were rendered speechless at questions Jesus posed - like when the king questioned a guest in the parable.  The Pharisees took their shot to entangle Jesus in His speech, and asked Him whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.  The Sadducees tested Jesus with a hypothetical question concerning the resurrection they did not even believe in.  Finally Jesus asked a question based on Psalm 110, proving the Messiah is not only the Son of David but the Son of God!  When Jesus spoke people marvelled, were astonished, and utterly silenced.  Concerning those unbelievers who tested Jesus, the chapter concludes in Matthew 22:46:  "No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions."

Now isn't that an amazing, enlightening connection between the Parable of the Wedding Feast and the interactions Jesus had with unbelievers?  Jesus, the Son of David and the Son of God, stood before them offering a robe of righteousness - a worthy wedding garment - through repentance and faith in Him.  The unbelieving priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, and others in the multitude did not believe Jesus was the Messiah.  As the religious authority they sought to discredit and kill Jesus rather than believe Him.  On the Day of Judgment they would be as the man without the wedding garment being questioned by the King of Kings, Jesus Christ Himself.  "Why didn't you believe in me?" He could rightly ask them.  And what could they say?  He had told them He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and for that they sought His life.  When God has revealed Himself to man through the wisdom of Christ's Words, demonstrated His love through the death of Christ on the cross, and proved His power through the resurrection, what can unbelievers say when He questions them concerning their unbelief?

Jesus asked questions unbelievers couldn't answer, but having our questions answered - or being asked questions we can't answer - does not necessarily lead to belief.  One cannot be reasoned into the kingdom of heaven, but faith in Christ is absolutely reasonable.  Belief and salvation is a gift of God by the power of the Holy Spirit who works in us.  God is not threatened by any question man throws at Him and can answer wisely in every case.  But if He asks a question we cannot or refuse to answer, shouldn't we consider the implications?  The Law stops our mouths, and our conscience reveals our guilt (Romans 3:19).  Why trust our doubtful questions more than God's answers?