Simple Questions Complex Answers

In Luke 12 Jesus tells a parable about being ready for when the Son of Man comes. Then in verse 41 Peter asks a great question…

“Lord are you telling this parable for us or for all?”

That’s a question we should always ask ourselves while reading the scriptures… for instance, are all christians supposed to sell all of our goods or was that specifically for a few? Were all christians supposed to go to all the earth (the great commission) or just some specific individuals? Like I said it was a great question.

It was a simple question and could have been answered simply. Yes Peter just for you disciples or no Peter to all the multitude. It was a simple question.

Jesus, however, didn’t give simple answers. Instead he told another parable. In that situation I, for instance, might have been a little frustrated and thought… can you just answer my question plainly and succinctly?

Let me suggest that Jesus answering with a parable was by design. It was designed to stimulate Peter’s brain and make him think because if you just give answers then you will always be answering. But if you can make someone think they can come up with their own answers.

Kind of like if you feed a guy a fish every day you will always be doing that but if you teach him to fish then he can feed himself and more importantly he can teach others how to fish.

So in short what was Jesus’ answer? In verse 48… “Everyone to whom much was given (the disciples), of him much will be required. And from whom they entrusted much (the disciples), they will demand the more”

I’m sure Peter went home and thought and thought about Jesus’ answer and was better off for the process and was prepared for when the Son of Man might come… even if the Son of Man came unexpectedly because the Son of Man had entrusted him much and Peter knew that much was expected of him.

So the next time someone asks you a question… consider, like Jesus, answering with a parable. That will exercise your brain too.