The Jewish leaders sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus in the attempt to catch Jesus in his words. The three paragraphs in today’s passage are introduced by a different Jewish official asking Jesus a question about God and his truth or his demands.

But, as always happens when people try to catch Jesus in his words, Jesus evades their traps by answering their questions with God’s truth. Their attempts to discredit Jesus only amplify God’s truth. Therefore, the passage reveals the truth about what God wants. As we begin another year together, let’s consider the three truths this passage reveals about what God really wants from you and me.