What does Jesus' response in Luke 20:3 teach about discernment in conversations? Setting the Scene—Luke 20:3 in Context • Luke 20 opens with religious leaders challenging Jesus’ authority. • Verse 3: “I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. • Before answering, He turns the tables with a probing question about John’s baptism (v. 4). Why Jesus Answers with a Question • He exposes motives. Their real aim was not truth but entrapment (cf. Luke 20:20). • He keeps the focus on God’s authority—if they admit John was from heaven, they must acknowledge Jesus (John 1:29-34). • He refuses to cast pearls before swine when hearts are hardened (Matthew 7:6). • He models the wisdom of “answering a fool according to his folly” so that the fool’s emptiness is revealed (Proverbs 26:5). Discernment Principles for Conversations • Test the spirit behind a question (1 John 4:1). • Respond in ways that uncover motives rather than feed hostility. • Guard truth without being trapped—“be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). • Silence or redirection is sometimes the most truthful answer (Luke 23:9). Practical Takeaways for Today • Pause before replying; ask the Holy Spirit for insight (James 1:5, 19). • Use clarifying questions: “What do you mean by that?”; “Why do you ask?” • Keep conversations centered on God’s authority, not personal ego (Colossians 4:6). • When hearts are closed, graciously disengage—truth is still honored. |
    |