Matthew 23:23-28
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. But these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.”
Some thoughts for your hopeful heart…
It is inherently human to strain gnats and swallow camels. This involves confusion about what is essential. Whenever we are distracted from the core things that make the world (and the universe) go around, we become small in our thinking. The gnats are the preoccupying things – the camels require a huge invasion of our space – when we miss the point about essentials. This encompasses the parts of our lives that are physical, philosophical, and theological. What are the gnats and camels in your journey? How can you avoid both extremes?
More: Micah 6:8; Psalm 51:14-17
Gnatfully yours,
Dave, [email protected] 