The religious leaders in this passage are eagerly waiting to find fault with Jesus instead of trying to understand Him and what He’s telling them. It is genuinely disheartening to know that they spent more time scrutinizing Jesus than they did listening to Him—true masters at the game of “gotcha!” Have you ever found yourself starting to play that game? Do you wait for other people to mess up? Do you discuss other people’s faults with those around you? If we’re not careful, we too can spend our energy pointing out the shortcomings of others, and that’s a road that leads directly opposite of where we want to be. Don’t fall into that trap! If you find yourself fixating on someone else and what they’re doing, contemplate what you can do to lift them up, without nitpicking or judgment. And even more, keep your eyes on your own relationship with God. If you’re too busy worrying about someone else’s faith journey, you’ll neglect your own.

Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:

Why do you think the religious leaders continued to find fault with Jesus?

How does it make you feel when you see one believer zero in on the shortcomings of another?

How do you keep your focus on Christ when others are pointing out your faults?