02.05.2016 New Testament: Matt 23.23–24

To read the Bible in a year, read Matthew 23.23–39 on February 5, In the year of our Lord 2016

By Don Ruhl

Life has priorities. That does not mean items lower on the list should be ignored, but it does mean we have to put things in their proper place,

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! (Matthew 23.23–24). 

Tithing mint, anise, and cummin did not require as much work and time as justice, mercy, and faith. Therefore, they would tithe the spices and believe they had kept the Law. Yes, tithe the spices, but give preferential treatment to the spiritual matters of justice, mercy, and faith. Doing those weightier issues did not mean they could ignore the lesser things.

Picture the illustration of Jesus. You do not want a camel in your soup, nor do you want a gnat in it. However, look at the hilarious picture of someone straining out the gnat, but then swallowing a camel.