Final answer:
Jesus asked multiple rhetorical and direct questions to the Pharisees, challenging their strict legalism and hypocrisy. His questions and statements were aimed at illuminating the true meaning of the laws and the importance of justice, mercy, and faith over mere ritual and outward appearance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question Jesus asked of the Pharisees is not directly mentioned in the provided texts. However, the texts do indicate several confrontations and teachings where Jesus challenges the Pharisees' beliefs and actions. He frequently criticized the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and for focusing on the letter of the law rather than its spirit. For instance, in Matthew 23, Jesus admonishes the Pharisees for their ostentatious displays of piety and for neglecting the more important aspects of the law: justice, mercy, and faith.
In another instance, He emphasizes the need to love thy neighbor as thyself, highlighting a fundamental aspect of His teachings against which the actions of the Pharisees were starkly contrasted. Furthermore, Jesus uses metaphorical language, as in Matthew 19:24, to underscore the difficulty for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, pointing out that material wealth can be an impediment to spiritual well-being. Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees are aimed at bringing a deeper understanding of God's intentions and the spirit behind the laws, calling out the Pharisees where they have misinterpreted or misapplied those laws.