Read: Matthew 22:15–22
This is the first moment in our thirty encounters where we see Jesus clearly frustrated. But he wasn’t frustrated with broken people asking for help—he was frustrated with religious leaders who were supposed to be guiding others to God.
Instead of leading with humility, the Pharisees were driven by pride and control. Jesus was a threat to their position, and rather than opening their hearts to what God might be doing through Jesus, they tried to trap him with trick questions. They wanted to embarrass him. They wanted to protect their influence. The Son of God was standing right in front of them, performing miracles and offering life, and all they could see was a threat.
Jesus didn’t hold back. He called out their hypocrisy. He knew what was underneath their polished words and religious language. Their hearts were hard, and their insecurities kept them from seeing who he really was.
It’s easy to shake our heads at them. But the truth is, we’re not so different. Sometimes we feel threatened by the success of others—a new coworker, a teammate, a friend who suddenly shine—and instead of celebrating, we get defensive and jealous. In doing so, we might miss what God is doing right in front of us.
Today, ask yourself, “Am I open to what God is doing around me, even when it doesn’t center on me? Am I leading with humility or protecting my pride?” Jesus still sees through appearances, and he still cares most about the posture of our hearts.