Gnats And Camels

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” (Matthew 23:23-26)

It’s easier to strain gnats than swallow camels, assuming we ever could.  We walk around with our mouths open, so the gnats fly in. That’s part of our problem.  We tend to talk too much rather than think before we speak.  

We also tend to think more about our appearances rather than the condition of our hearts that may be full of plunder (anger and hatred) and self-indulgence (prideful behavior). We need to be a clean cup inside and out.  A good scrub brush is needed, and that’s Jesus provided we grab his handle and use him.

Deacon David Pierce