On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Questions are an interesting way to find out information. But they also communicate what matters to a person and what they value. People that ask questions about a person’s birthplace tend to value geography and origins. People that ask about their culture and/or beliefs may value some of the distinctiveness or differences we have. Those that want to know what sports team you root for or what is your favorite vacation spot indicate a value of fun and excitement. So I must consider: What does this man value? We know he was an expert in the law so we can assume he highly valued keeping the rules. He was clearly not a “rule-breaker”. He liked to color inside the lines. And then he asks a question I think he thinks he already knows the answer to: “What must I do to inherit the Kingdom of God?”

Why do I say this? Because his very question indicates he thinks he has the ability on his own to measure up to God’s standard of perfection, and the word “do” indicates a works-based theology. He thinks he can earn his way to heaven all on his own. Jesus must have chuckled inside at this arrogance. But Jesus caught him up on one qualification: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This was a proud man, used to comparing himself to others and coming out on top in regard to “religious righteousness”. He looked down on everyone else. How was he going to love his neighbor? He likely put them down in his own mind to build himself up. So, he asks a qualifying question: “Who is my neighbor?” (Maybe Jesus would narrowly define this word and he could just “grin and bear it” as he loved the people next door to him by bringing them cookies?)

So we observe that this man had a serious pride problem by analyzing his questions. I wonder what questions you or I would ask Jesus if he was “in the flesh” today? What would he think of our questions? What would they reveal about the condition of our hearts?

Lord, may I seek after you and your ways first, not my own justification or glory. Teach me to ask questions of myself that root out sin and questions of you that propel me into your service!