Honest Questions

Scripture – Matthew 9:14-17:¹⁴Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” ¹⁵Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. ¹⁶“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. ¹⁷Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) How interesting! John’s disciples come with basically the same question as the Pharisees (back in verse 11). Yet Jesus answers them with what seems a much softer tone of voice. They were asking an honest question. I’ve heard many people ask questions that are really not questions – they’re just excuses to start an argument. I’ve learned to pretty much avoid getting sucked into those conversations. Other people, however, will ask honest questions. Here, for example, John’s disciples were sincere people who didn’t understand the difference in behavior between what they had been taught and what they saw in Jesus’ disciples. Jesus always gives honest questions an honest answer.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) What are the questions I have? How honest are they? I’ll be careful before I ask today. I’ll be aware of what I’m really asking, and I’ll ask honestly.

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Lord, I’m sorry for the times I play games – sometimes asking questions that are really not questions. Remind me to be honest with other people, with myself and with you. Thank you for taking me seriously. Thank you for being honest with me.

An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting this Sunday morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.