24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees
1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,[a]that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ (The Scribes and Pharisees are sitting in the seat of Moses and thus they have the task of instructing the law to the people. Jesus tells the people that they should do what they are told but that these people who are instructing them are hypocrites because they don’t even follow the law. In fact, they are so strict with the law that it is a very heavy burden they are imposing on the people. Most likely they do this to make sure they are getting their tithe. This is their profession and thus this is how they are paid. The works they do are designed to be seen by men. They love the best seats at religious feasts, the best spots in church and desire all the attention by the people with the greetings of “Rabbi-Rabbi.” Basically, they enjoy the keys to the kingdom of heaven and thus people will suck up to these religious figures believing that if they are friends with the Scribes and Pharisees, than they are surely given admission to heaven.) 8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ,[b] and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But he who is greatest among you Because Pharisees are well versed in the law, they are going to feel the full wrath of God because of these selfish acts. They travel great distances to “save” one gentile when they could be using the time, energy, effort and cost to do good deeds to the people nearby. Because of these actions, they and their “saved” gentile will see hell.) Jesus warns the people, don’t call anyone Rabbi, for only one is your teacher, Christ. Again, he says, don’t call them “father” because only one is your father, God! Again he says, don’t call anyone teacher, for only one is your teacher, Jesus! Jesus says, he who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted. If I were in the religious profession, (after all, I’m just a chimney sweep) I would make sure that I looked at this very closely. When people look at my rank and title, what does that portray. It’s the same thing that Jesus is talking about here. Here is some things to think about. As you rise up the ranks of your religious careers, how does the world view you. Do they view you with admiration and wonderment. Do they speak to you addressing you with a distinguishing title and seek your knowledge of the kingdom of heaven? What would the highest rank of religious authority look like? The answer would be a person that rides on donkeys and washes other men’s feet.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies[d] the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells[e] in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. Blind guides, you strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! So let’s look at the text. Blind guides: Pretty clear that Jesus is referring to the Pharrasses and Scribes. Next are a few other words and dictionary meanings Strain: (verb used with object) 1) to exert to the utmost 2) to stretch beyond the proper point or limit 3) to make excessive demands upon 4) to pour (liquid containing solid matter) through a filter 5) to clasp tightly in the arms, the hand (verb used without and object) 6) to stretch one's muscles, nerves 7) to make violent physical efforts 8) to resist forcefully 9) to filter, percolate, or ooze Noun 10) strong muscular or physical effort 11) condition of being strained or stretched 12) a task, goal, or effect accomplished only with great effort 13) severe, trying, or fatiguing pressure or exertion; taxing onus: the strain of hard work. 14) a severe demand on or test of resources, feelings, a person, etc.: a strain on one's hospitality Out: Adverb: not in present possession or use, as on loan: The librarian said that the book was still out. verb: to eject or expel; discharge; oust Gnat: any of certain small flies Swallow: 1) to take into the stomach by drawing through the throat and esophagus with a voluntary muscular action, as food, drink, or other substances. 2) to take in so as to envelop; withdraw from sight; assimilate or absorb Camel: well, it’s a big camel. Time for the explanation: What if you took the words for what they are. Jesus is saying the Pharassees are swallowing camels and straining out gnats. O.K., let’s do a little biology. These guys are swallowing camels. They must be pigs. They are basically taking in a whole bunch of stuff down their throats. A little hard to imagine but let’s roll with it. So it hit’s the stomach. The camel gets broke up for nutrients, goes to the small intestines and sucks all the protein and what have you out. Finally reaches the large intestines and more energy and what have you is obsorbed to keep our bodies in good shape and finally what is left is poop. Man, if I ate a camel, I would have a giant poop. Likely it would be at least the size of a dog. And what is this “strain out” stuff. Strain means give great effort. If I ate a camel, I think I would be shooting out a dog. How can someone eat a camel and strain out a gnat? That means that he is taking in “a whole bunch” and giving out “practically nothing.” Oops, I mis-worded that. It’s not “giving out” practically nothing. It’s straining out which means “make violent physical efforts” to give something very small. So look back on Jesus saying. 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. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! You Pharisees are hypocrites. You give a tenth of your income to the church (since they are the church, they are basically giving money to themselves) but neglect more important matters like helping the poor, sick, needy and definitely do not understand faith. You should be helping the poor and unfortunate along with following the requirements of tithe. Your so scared that you are going to give away all your money to the poor and needy that you won’t have any to take care of yourself. Have a little faith in God that he will take care of you. You are so blind. It is a violent effort for you to give even a tiny little bit to the needy and the poor. Even though you swallow widow’s homes and large amounts of money from the people you scare into tithing. Basically, the camel is figurative for the large amount of money and possessions the Parassees get from the people. The straining out a gnat is the great effort that is required for them to give anything back to people in need. When I say anything, I mean a very little anything. So, do you wonder how I got it? I’m a little torn because it’s going to cost me a lot of riches in heaven, but you guys are really cool so if I’m sleeping on your couch in heaven, you will know why. It’s late December 2009. I attend a church in Virginia Beach and I am pretty good at tithing. I have been tithing since basically when I was baptized which was January 1,2006. Needless to say, God tells us that when we give, give in secret. You don’t go in an flash a bunch of money and make a big deal about giving to the church. The preachers will praise you and buddy up to you and that is your payment. Instead, give humbly and in secret and your Father will pay you back 10 times on earth or 100 times in heaven. Now you see that by me telling you this story it has essentially drained my bank account in heaven. Hope you happy and get a nice couch. Maybe a leather couch with a nice television. You never know when you might have visitors. Back to the story. So for three years, I had tithed. Man, if you ever tithe and truly tithe, you’ll find that it can be a heavy burden. I know there are some of the preachers who act like it’s easy and not a problem and give above and beyond, bla bla bla, but for me, it was heavy. I’m not use to this Christian stuff but I have to admit, when I first started tithing I was flat broke broke broke and in debt! Now it is only three years later and I just turned millionaire! I’m serious. The fun facts of this occurrence is later in the book in the chapter call “Everyone has a story.” Anyways, back to the tithe thing. I found that when I gave 10% to God, it tightened me up to business. I didn’t have any longing for other things like buying boats (happiest day is when you buy it and sell it! Actually the happiest day is when you sell it.) I also found that I didn’t have any longing for things like, aw, you need some money? Tough luck, I have my own problems. Go out and work for it. Hello, we are calling for the poor people who need your help fund and were hoping you might make a tax deductible donation. “Sorry about you luck, I give already but I’ll be happy to pray for you.” After all, they might be a scam company, or scam person who is going to take my money and buy drugs with it. If God didn’t want them in the situation, they would not have them in the situation. Wow, this stuff worked great. I give God 10% of all my money and I can keep the rest. I’ll sleep like a baby because I’ll let my church go feed the homeless because they are better equipped to know who need it and who does not need it. After all, I am giving to God himself! So nearly three years goes by and I had no idea that I might be doing something bad. You know that only 3% of Christians/Catholics tithe. (Wait until later when I tell you that you don’t have to tithe. That will get you.) I have a business and a good portion of the money come is the last three months of the year. Well, during the fall of 2009, another thing popped up in my life. My sister lost her job and was out of work for several months. Early in the fall of 2009, I visited her and had lunch with. She has been taking care of my mother who has lung cancer. My mother has quite a bit of money and thus I assumed my mother was paying my sister’s bills while she was unemployed. Well, I had lunch with my sister and gave her $500. She was thankful and it was before my busy season and thus I was not flooded with money. Three months later and I’m finished with a good chimney sweep season. I owe Caesar nearly $100,000 and call my church to see how much I have contributed verses what I had made to see what 10% is. The answer is $12,000. So I have to give my church a check for $12,000 to properly tithe for the year. I have to give $100,000 in taxes and where is all the money going? There is another thing that is bothering me a little. My sister is still out of a job and will lose her house. Before you go yelling at me, “Hey I have my own problems!” (taken from 2 paragraphs up) How to solve this issue? I could just give my sister the money but she blows her money on crazy things like “writing books about crazy dreams.” (discussed in a later chapter) Ah, I could pray for her and let God take care of her. If she loses the house, “It’s for the best.” I got it. I’ll donate it to the church as a “specified offering” to help the poor person and name my sister. This might not work because my sister would lose her house before accepting charity. She gives to more people than she would ever take. What to do? What to do? When in doubt, pray. Pray, pray pray. So I prayed. I prayed in my car. I prayed at home. Finally, I open my bible to have God speak to me. Bam, open book to Matthew 23: 23-24. Wow, it has the word tithe in it. I love you Jesus. What are you saying? Over and Over and Over. Swallow a camel and stain a gnat. Look it up on the internet, strain gnat through water. What? Whatever. It’s Saturday night and in the morning, I need to bring $12,000 to either the church or to my sister or something. I wake up in the morning, get dressed to go to church and at the last minute, I make the check payable to my sister and begin to drive to her house. Half way to my sisters house, keep going through my mind, “Swallow a camel, strain a gnat.”
Than it hit me like a brick. Strain a gnat. They are cheap! They tithe but they are stingy with their money. I laugh a while and then I cried because I used to be a very generous person and have become very stingy. I gave my sister the money and she was very happy. Likely, it saved her house. I’m not sure because it has only been a month since this incident. I have come to realize that as Christians we are not bound by the laws of Moses. Many churches are defining Matthew 23:24 incorrectly.
(I guess the best way to explain this line are preachers who tell visitors, "When the offering plate comes by, do not give anything because you are just visiting. We do not want your money. But when you join the church, they make you sign a tithe agreement that states you will give 10% of your income to the church. If you believe this is the law, everyone who enters your church is obliged to perform this requirement. Not just the members who sign a membership and financial agreement with the church. These tithe agreements are basically swearing to God. Not a very good practice because Jesus says, Let your Yes be Yes and No be No. Do not swear by anything.)
23 “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. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.[f] 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Finally, yes by the technical term, you tithe. But you neglect everything else which matter a whole lot more than tithing. What about justice, mercy and faith.
Praise Jesus
God Bless
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