They Reasoned Among Themselves

It is the last days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He has just entered Jerusalem and caused quite a stir. He came in riding on a colt, a sign and a fulfillment of prophecy that the people would have certainly understood: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). Upon his arrival, his righteous indignation was stirred as he saw those who profited from the worshipers. In his anger, he “drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves,” saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den” (Matthew 21:12-13).

All this raised the ire of the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the people. They asked Jesus, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23). In response, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?” (Matthew 21:24-25). Faced with his question, “they began reasoning among themselves, saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say to us, “Then why did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From men,” we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.’ And answering Jesus, they said, ‘We do not know,” to which Jesus responded, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Matthew 21:25-27).

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include this story, and they all use the phrase “reasoning among themselves.” In the original text, this phrase is a single Greek word, dialogizomai [1]. This word means to reason, think, consider, and even to dispute. This word occurs 12 times in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) and 16 times in the Greek New Testament, all of them in the Gospels. In the Old Testament, this word is almost exclusively used to describe a person reasoning with himself, in his heart and mind. For example, speaking of the wicked, David says, “He plans [dialogizomai] wickedness upon his bed; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he does not despise evil” (Psalms 36:4).

However, in the New Testament, this word, with two exceptions, is used to describe a group of people reasoning together. In all, there are six stories where this Greek word is used. The first is the story mentioned above, in which the Pharisees reason among themselves about how to answer Jesus. The second is when Jesus warns the disciples regarding the leaven of the Pharisees, leaving them “to discuss this among themselves [dialogizomai], saying, ‘He said that because we did not bring any bread’” (Matthew 16:7). The third is when Jesus told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven, to which “the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?’” (Luke 5:21). The fourth instance is when the disciples were arguing among themselves as to who was the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus later asks them, “What were you discussing [dialogizomai] on the way?” (Mark 9:33). The fifth story concerns people trying to decide what to think about John the Baptist. Luke writes, “while the people were in a state of expectation and all were wondering [dialogizomai] in their hearts about John, as to whether he was the Christ” (Luke 3:15). Finally, the last story regards Caiaphas' remarks to his fellow priests, “But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account [dialogizomai] that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish” (John 11:49-50 [2]).

What is interesting in these six stories is that, when the people reasoned among themselves, they reasoned wrong. In each case, as they reasoned with one another, they failed to come to the truth of the matter. There is a lesson here for us. When we have questions concerning God, his word, or his kingdom, turning to others to try and figure it out may not be a winning strategy, at least as far as the truth is concerned. So, what is one to do with their questions and doubts? How is one to work through these things to come to the truth of the matter? The problem is not our questions and doubts, for all people have questions and, from time to time, even doubts. The problem is what to do with these questions and doubts. The proper way, the biblical way, to handle our questions and doubts regarding God, his word, and his kingdom, is to take them to God, rather than trusting in the human reasoning of others.

Carl E. Armerding, in his commentary on Habakuk, writes, “It is a wise man who takes his questions about God to God for the answers.” [3] Armerding was specifically thinking of the example of the prophet Habakuk who, when he had troubling questions regarding what God had revealed to him, resolved to “stand on my guard post and station myself on the rampart; and I will keep watch to see what He [God] will speak to me, and how I may reply when I am reproved” (Habakkuk 2:1). Instead of turning to others for answers, we should turn to God, for he alone has the answers we seek. So, how does one practically take their questions and doubts to God? Here are four suggestions.

The first way to take our questions and doubts to God is to abide in God’s word. Jesus promised us that “if you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32). Our search for truth and meaning must begin in the Word of God. There can be no substitute for knowing and understanding God’s word. We cannot rely upon what others tell us about it; we must know it for ourselves. We must be like those Bereans who “received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:1). Our journey towards the truth begins with God’s word.

Secondly, we must cultivate a life of prayer in which we learn to bring our needs, questions, and even doubts directly to God himself. The apostle Paul, whom God used to bring healing to many, was himself suffering with a physical affliction. In trying to understand how this should be, he turned to God in prayer. We read, “Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). It was in prayer that Paul got the answer he needed.

Thirdly, we must develop a life of worship and communion with God. Armerding writes that the answers to “the difficult issues of God’s goodness” are to be found, not in “philosophical speculation or cynical debate” but through “relevant worship and communion.” [4] We see this in the Psalms where David tried to understand how good things could happen to the wicked and bad things to the good. He says, “When I thought of understanding this, it was troublesome in my sight until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end” (Psalms 73:16-17). Some answers are found only when we enter into the presence and communion of God.

Finally, truth is often discerned, not in isolation, but in community. This may seem like a contradiction, and that we are back to reasoning with one another. However, what I mean by discerning truth in community is that we are in community with others who likewise seek truth by taking their questions and doubts to God, rather than turning to the many voices crying out to be heard. Paul tells us that “the household of God, which is the church of the living God,” is “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). We cannot expect to know and understand the truth if we isolate ourselves and shun the church which is “the pillar and support of the truth.” We must be in community with others who are themselves pursuing God and his truth.

How about you? How do you handle your own questions and doubt? How have you learned to take them to God himself? I would love to hear your thoughts. You can leave a comment below or email me directly at hello@davidrobison.net. You can also sign up to receive email updates when new content is posted to this site. Use the subscription form on the home page.

All scripture quotations are taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org

[1] διαλογίζομαι.

[2] This is a textual variant with some manuscripts reading λογίζομαι [logizomai].

[3] Carl E. Armerding, “Habakuk,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Rev. ed, vol. 8, ed. Tremper Longman and David E. Garland (Zondervan, 2006), 622.

[4] Carl E. Armerding, “Habakuk,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Rev. ed, vol. 8, ed. Tremper Longman and David E. Garland (Zondervan, 2006), 616-617.