To review, Jesus dealt with accusations by asking questions to challenge their thinking and open their heart to Him as their Messiah. To do that, they had to unlearn their old thoughts and explore a new way of thinking. We can learn that asking a question in enemy territory is an effective way to communicate. It is the general practice of human beings to react emotionally rather than engage their mind in rational thought. But, Jesus wants people to think for themselves.
Jesus also used short simple analogies and parables. A point can be made by making a comparison like “a tree is known by its fruit.”
Parables illustrated His ideas about the kingdom of God, warned of judgment to come, and aided Him in dealing with accusations. Using figurative language was an effective and safe way to get them to think. In the parables of the Two Sons, the Wicked Vinedressers, and the Wedding Feast, He was trying to persuade the Pharisees that He was the Messiah and the Kingdom was at hand. Jesus knew the parables would be easier to accept instead of a rebuke. Story-telling is still an effective method of communicating a principle of truth. Sometimes, the analogy was so clear that Jesus did not need to add anything more. They understood he was talking about them (cf. Matt. 21:45). At other times, he clarifies the application as when he says to the Pharisees, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.” (Matt. 21:31).
Jesus, also, responds to His accusers with strong words of condemnation as a last resort to awaken them. In the middle of pronouncing His six woes to the Jewish leaders in Matthew 23, he still weeps over them, wishing to gather them under His wings like a mother hen gathers her chicks, but they “were not willing,” (Matt. 23:37).
One of the last few methods that Jesus used is withdrawing from the conflict. Jesus communicated the truth. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” One reason why it is important to consider Jesus’ method of dealing with accusations is that His methods give us important guidelines for managing conflict. When he spoke, he spoke with authority and not as the Scribes. M. Afzalur Rahim, author, and founder of the International Journal of Conflict Management, identified five ways of dealing with conflict: avoiding, obliging (giving in), compromising (negotiating to find a middle way), dominating (getting the upper hand to win), and integrating (collaborate for win-win situation). Jesus neither avoided the situation and wish it away, nor did He give in to the wishes of His opposers. He did not compromise His principles and the truth He stood for. He did not dominate the situation just to win the argument. He did not collaborate gain a win-win situation, so everyone would go home happy. He expressed feelings of frustration, sadness, and even anger but did not vent out His feelings as is encouraged today. He did not harbor ill will gainst His accusers. His response to His accusers reveals His feelings. He cried, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:27). He did not enlist a third person to help him solve the problem. Jesus instead asked questions to direct the accuser’s thoughts to a greater principle or truth in the scriptures; he shared parables and analogies to warn His accusers or impress some important view of God; he used strong words of condemnation in love to show them their errors and bring them back to the truth; he referred to the Scriptures to guide them to a clear understanding of God’s will; and on some occasions seeing that all He had said would make no difference, He chose to remain silent. Then, at other times, He would withdraw drew from the scene refusing to be drawn into controversy. The structure of the Gospel of Matthew gives a continuous contrast between Jesus and His accusers.