One of the most striking things about Jesus is that He often taught not by giving direct answers, but by asking deep, soul-searching questions. In the Gospels, Jesus asks far more questions than He answers directly. In fact, scholars say Jesus asked about 307 questions and gave only about 3 direct answers (exact numbers have been debated). From our perspective, this can feel confusing and often frustrating. Like, come on, Jesus… just tell us how it is! But His questions weren’t meant to confuse people; they were meant to challenge and awaken them.
Questions invite reflection. They disarm defenses. They open hearts. And as we begin our sermon series “5 Questions Jesus Asked,” it’s worth remembering just how often Jesus used questions to lead people toward truth, faith, repentance, and transformation. Here’s a list of 150 questions Jesus asked in the Gospels for your own study and reflection. Also, you could even prayerfully consider which of these questions Jesus might ask you today and in this season of your life.
150 Questions Jesus Asked in the Gospels
- If you love only those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? (Matt 5:46)
- And if you greet your brethren only, what is unusual about that? Do not the unbelievers do the same? (Matt 5:47)
- Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing” (Matt 6:25)
- Are you not of more value than the birds of the air? (Matt 6:26)
- Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan? (Matt 6:27)
- Why do you worry about clothes? … will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matt 6:28, 30)
- Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye yet fail to perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? (Matt 7:2)
- Who among you will give your children a stone when they ask for bread? Or give them a snake when they ask for fish? (Matt 7:9-10)
- Do people pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (Matt 7:16)
- Why are you so afraid? (Matt 8:26)
- Why do you harbor evil thoughts? (Matt 9:4)
- Can the wedding guests mourn so long as the Bridegroom is with them? (Matt 9:15)
- Do you believe I can do this? (Matt 9:28)
- What did you go out to the desert to see? … A prophet? (Matt 11:8)
- To what shall I compare this generation? (Matt 11:16)
- Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? (Matt 12:3)
- Which of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out? (Matt 12:11)
- How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and take hold of his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? (Matt 12:29)
- You brood of vipers! How can you say good things when you are evil? (Matt 12:34)
- Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? (Matt 12:48)
- Have you understood all these things? (Matt 13:51)
- Why did you doubt? (Matt 14:31)
- And why do you break the commandments of God for the sake of your tradition? (Matt 15:3)
- How many loaves do you have? (Matt 15:34)
- Do you not yet understand? (Matt 16:8)
- Who do people say the Son of Man is? (Matt 16:13)
- But who do you say that I am? (Matt 16:15)
- What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matt 16:26)
- O faithless and perverse generation how long must I endure you? (Matt 17:17)
- Why do you ask me about what is good? (Matt 19:16)
- Why were you looking for me? (Matt. 20:21)
- Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink? (Matt 20:22)
- What do you want me to do for you? (Matt 20:32)
- Did you never read the scriptures? (Matt 21:42)
- Why are you testing me? (Matt 22:18)
- As for the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what God told you, ‘I’m the God of Abraham, the God of Issac, the God of Jacob?’ (Matt 22:31-32)
- What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? (Matt 22:42)
- Blind fools, which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred….the gift of the altar that makes the gift sacred? (Matt 23:17-19)
- How are you to avoid being sentenced to hell? (Matt 23:33)
- Do you see all these things? (Matt 24:2)
- Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? (Matt 25:37-39)
- Why do you make trouble for the woman? (Matt 26:10)
- Could you not watch for me one brief hour? (Matt 26:40)
- Do you think I cannot call upon my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? (Matt 26:53)
- But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? (Matt 22:54)
- My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (Matt 27:46)
- Why are you thinking such things in your heart? (Mark 2:8)
- Which is easier—to say to a paralyzed person, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk’? (Mark 2:9)
- Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it? (Mark 3:4)
- Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith? (Mark 4:40)
- Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed rather than on a lamp stand? (Mark 4:21)
- What’s a good image for God’s kingdom? What parable can I use to explain it? (Mark 4:30)
- Who has touched my clothes? (Mark 5:30)
- Why this commotion and weeping? (Mark 5:39)
- Are even you likewise without understanding? (Mark 7:18)
- Why does this generation seek a sign? (Mark 8:12)
- Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and still not see? Ears and not hear? (Mark 8:17-18)
- Don’t you remember? How many wicker baskets full of leftover fragments did you pick up? (Mark 8:19)
- [To the Blind man] Do you see anything? (Mark 8:23)
- How long has this been going on? (Mark 9:21)
- What were you arguing about on the way? (Mark 9:33)
- Salt is good, but what if salt becomes flat? (Mark 9:50)
- What did Moses command you? (Mark 10:3)
- Why do you call me good? (Mark 10:18)
- Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? (Mark 11:17)
- John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? (Mark 11:30)
- Isn’t this the reason you are wrong, because you don’t know either the Scriptures or God’s power? (Mark 12:24)
- Do you see these great buildings? They will all be thrown down. (Mark 13:2)
- Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. (Mark 14:6)
- Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you stay alert for one hour? (Mark 14:37)
- Will you sleep and rest all night? (Mark 14:41)
- Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords & clubs to capture me? (Mark 14:48)
- My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Mark 15.34)
- Why were you looking for me? (Luke 2:49)
- What are you thinking in your hearts? (Luke 5:22)
- The wedding guests can’t fast while the groom is with them, can they? (Luke 5:34)
- If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? … If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? (Luke 6:33-34)
- A blind person cannot lead another blind person, right? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? (Luke 6:39)
- Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I command? (Luke 6:46)
- Do you see this woman? …Her many sins have been forgiven for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little. (Luke 7:44)
- Where is your faith? (Luke 8:25)
- What is your name? (Luke 8:30)
- Who touched me? (Luke 8:45)
- Will you be exalted to heaven? (Luke 10:15)
- What is written in the law? How do you read it? (Luke 10:26)
- Which of these three was neighbor to the robber’s victim? (Luke 10:36)
- Which father among you would give a snake to your child if the child asked for a fish? If a child asked for an egg, what father would give the child a scorpion? If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? (Luke 11:11-13)
- Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? (Luke 11:40)
- Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbiter? (Luke 12:14)
- If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? (Luke 12:26)
- Who are the faithful and wise managers whom the master will put in charge of his household servants, to give them their food at the proper time? (Luke 12:42)
- Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? (Luke 12:51)
- Why do you not judge for yourself what is right? (Luke 12:57)
- Do you think the suffering of these Galileans proves that they were more sinful than all the other Galileans? What about those 12 people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more guilty of wrongdoing than everyone else who lives in Jerusalem? (Luke 13:2, 4)
- What is God’s kingdom like? To what can I compare it? (Luke 13:18)
- Does the law allow healing on the Sabbath or not? (Luke 14:3)
- What king, marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king marching upon him with twenty thousand troops? (Luke 14:31)
- If therefore you are not trustworthy with worldly wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? (Luke 16:11)
- Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? (Luke 17:17-18)
- Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? (Luke 18:7)
- But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (Luke 18:8)
- Show me a coin. Whose image and inscription does it have on it?” (Luke 20:24)
- For who is greater, the one seated a table or the one who serves? (Luke 22:27)
- When I sent you out without purse, bag or shoes, did you lack anything? (Luke 22:35)
- Why are you sleeping? (Luke 22:46)
- Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? (Luke 22:48)
- What are you discussing as you walk along? (Luke 24:17)
- Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter his glory? (Luke 24:26)
- Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38)
- Have you anything here to eat? (Luke 24:41)
- What are you looking for? (John 1:38)
- Woman, what does this concern of yours have to do with me? (John 2:4)
- You are a teacher in Israel and you do not understand this? (John 3:10)
- If I tell you about earthly things and you will not believe, how will you believe when I tell you of heavenly things? (John 3:12)
- Do you want to be well? (John 5:6)
- How is it that you seek praise from one another and not praise that comes from God? (John 5:44)
- If you do not believe Moses’ writings how will you believe me? (John 5:47)
- Where can we buy enough food for them to eat? (John 6:5)
- Does this offend you? (John 6:61)
- What will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? (John 6:62)
- Do you also want to leave me? (John 6:67)
- Did I not choose you twelve, and one of you is a devil? (John 6:70)
- Why are you trying to kill me? (John 7:19)
- Woman where are they, has no one condemned you? (John 8:10)
- Why do you not understand what I am saying? (John 8:43)
- Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? (John 8:46)
- If I am telling you the truth, why do you not believe me? (John 8:46)
- Do you believe in the Son of Man? (John 9:35)
- If those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am God’s son’? (John 10:35-36)
- Are there not twelve hours in a day? (John 11:9)
- Whoever lives in me and believes in me will never die—do you believe this? (Jn 11:26)
- Where have you laid him? (John 11:33)
- Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory? (John 11:40)
- What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this time?’ (John 12:27)
- Do you realize what I have done for you? (John 13:12)
- Will you really lay down your life for me? (John13:38)
- My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2)
- Have I been with you for so long and still you do not know me? (John 14:9)
- How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? (John 14:9-10)
- Do you now believe? (John 16:31)
- Who are you looking for? (John 18:4, 7)
- Shall I not drink the cup the Father gave me? (John 18:11)
- Why question me? (John 18:21)
- If I have spoken rightly, why did you strike me? (John 18:23)
- Do you say this on your own or have others been telling you about me? (John 18:34)
- Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for? (John 20:15)
- Have you come to believe because you have seen me? (John 20:29)
- Children, have you caught any fish? (John 21:5)
- Do you love me more than these? …Do you love me?…Do you love me? (John 21:15-17)
- If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me! (John 21:22)
