"GNATS AND CAMELS" by: Jared Keiffer

Matthew 23 captures Jesus laying into the scribes and Pharisees in what is commonly referred to as the "Seven Woes".

Matthew 23: 23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Jesus called them out for minding some minute parts of the law while neglecting the weightier matters of the law. They would measure out their tithe to ensure a perfectly accurate 10%. He paints the picture of a Betty Crocker homemaker leveling off her measuring cup to make sure she has exactly 3/4 cup of flour and no more.

He says that while they strain out the gnats, they swallow a camel!

When these guys would go for a nice Cabernet after dinner, they would strain the wine to get out even the smallest of insects and imperfections. But while paying such attention to the small matter, they completely neglected the giant camel swimming in their vino (Jesus uses this hyperbole). I got a good laugh out of reading this but it really struck me how much I fit the bill when it comes to this woe.

I keep a detailed spreadsheet to capture my exact income, a nice formula to calculate a 10% monthly tithe, and then capture my actual giving to give me my plus/minus tithe for each month. This keeps me checking off "tithe" on my spiritual accomplishments checklist.

But while tracking my tithe so neatly, how many times will I cross the street to avoid the beggar on the corner? "He'll just buy booze anyway" I can easily rationalize to myself. But Jesus says, in

Matthew 25: 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' 45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

Is not this man the least of these? When did I overtake the judgment seat of God to determine if this man was worth a meal and a message of hope?

I think more often than not, I overtake the seat of the Pharisee and fall prey to the same mistakes as they did 2,000 years ago. My prayer and aim is to take the woe and turn my course. Will you stop overlooking the camels as you strain out the gnats in your life as well?


Link To Author's Website (Click Here)