Socrates and Jesus asked many questions and gave more questions when asked for answers. They did not do this because they didn't want people to know the truth, quite simply the opposite was true. They desperately wanted the masses, both the elite and the common people to know the truth and to engage it.
Asking questions causes the hearer to think more deeply. It also causes people to suppress or forget their preconceived ideas in order to deal with the question at hand. This helps foster an inductive approach to learning and study.
Jesus and Socrates both noticed that people who want answers to questions many times have ulterior motives. For instance, when Socrates is approached by a young man who asks him for knowledge. Socrates proceeds to dunk the man repeatedly in the ocean asking him each time what he wants. The man terrified and gasping for breath says he wants air! Socrates then concludes that this young man will not receive knowledge until he desires truth more than air. (Apocryphal from Diogenes Laertius)
The religious leaders asked Jesus for answers in order to trap him and discredit him (John 8:6). Another man who was an expert in religious law came to Jesus seeking answers but his motives were to "justify himself" (Luke 10:29).
The simple and sad truth is that not everyone who asks for truth wants truth. Someone who doesn't want truth probably will get what they want. I think it was G. K. Chesterton who said, "To give answers to someone who doesn't love truth is to give more reasons for doubt." I hope that my questions will aid those who desire to know the truth and frustrate those who don't.
P.S. However, a little frustration for all of us should be welcomed when dealing with questions.
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