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Matthew 23:24
Verse
Context
Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat--The proper rendering--as in the older English translations, and perhaps our own as it came from the translators' hands--evidently is, "strain out." It was the custom, says TRENCH, of the stricter Jews to strain their wine, vinegar, and other potables through linen or gauze, lest unawares they should drink down some little unclean insect therein and thus transgress (Lev 11:20, Lev 11:23, Lev 11:41-42) --just as the Buddhists do now in Ceylon and Hindustan--and to this custom of theirs our Lord here refers. and swallow a camel--the largest animal the Jews knew, as the "gnat" was the smallest; both were by the law unclean.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,.... Our Lord cannot be thought to bear too hard upon these men, nor does he continue this character of them, and denunciations of woe against them, without a reason: for ye make clean the outside of the cup and platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. The allusion is to their traditions about washing their cups and pots, and brazen vessels; see Mar 7:4 which they strictly observed. In their oral law is a whole tract, called "Mikvaot", which gives rules about the places where they washed, the things to be washed, and the manner of washing them; about which they were very nice, pretending to much outward cleanness, but had no regard to inward purity. Christ's sense is, that they took much pains, and were very careful, that the cup they drank out of, and the platter, or dish they ate out of, should be very clean; when at the same time, the food and drink that were within them, were got by oppression and rapine; by devouring widows' houses, by making undue claims upon, and extorting unjust sums from the fatherless, the poor, and the needy; and were abused by them, to luxury and intemperance. In like manner the Jews themselves say of hypocrites (w), "They make show of a pure and clean soul, but under it lies hid a leprosy: they are like to "vessels full of uncleanness"; they are outwardly washed with the water of fraud and craftiness; but whatsoever is within, in the midst or them, is unclean. The Vulgate Latin version of the text, instead of "excess", reads "uncleanness", and so does Munster's Hebrew Gospel: many copies read "unrighteousness". Excess is thought to be a sin the Pharisees were not guilty of, though they were of extortion, injustice, and uncleanness, (w) R. Sol Gabirol in Cether Malcuth apud L. Capell in loc.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
23:24 gnat . . . camel: These words form a pun in Aramaic (qalma . . . gamla), the language Jesus probably spoke.
Matthew 23:24
Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Christ Our Passover
By C.H. Spurgeon5.0K46:54MAT 21:12MAT 21:19MAT 21:28MAT 23:24MAT 25:1MRK 12:28JHN 14:1JHN 14:13In this sermon, the preacher discusses the significance of the last four days of Jesus' ministry before his crucifixion. He compares the separation of a lamb for four days to Jesus being set apart as the chosen one of God during these four days. The preacher highlights various events and teachings that took place during this time, including Jesus riding triumphantly into Jerusalem, cursing the fig tree, driving out the buyers and sellers from the temple, and delivering parables and denunciations against the Pharisees. The preacher emphasizes that these four days were filled with important teachings and actions by Jesus, making them a significant period in his ministry.
How Does God Forgive Sins? (Part 2)
By J. Edwin Orr1.8K35:30Revival TheologyPSA 32:5MAT 18:15MAT 23:24JAS 5:16In this sermon, the speaker addresses the issue of conflicts and misunderstandings within churches. He emphasizes that many troubles in churches are social in nature, with people struggling to get along with one another. The speaker refers to the words of Jesus in Matthew 23:24, highlighting the importance of confession and agreement in resolving conflicts. He cautions against a dangerous doctrine that suggests one can continue in sinful behavior as long as they agree it is wrong. The speaker also discusses the need for thorough confession and repentance, referencing Proverbs 28:13. He shares a personal anecdote about resolving a quarrel and emphasizes the importance of seeking reconciliation and making amends.
Be Clean Inside
By Joshua Daniel1.7K28:19PSA 51:10PRO 16:5JER 17:9MAT 5:13MAT 23:24LUK 19:41LUK 19:452TI 2:21JAS 4:8This sermon by Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of inner purity and genuine transformation rather than external appearances or religious rituals. He highlights the need for a sincere heart, free from pride and selfishness, that prioritizes true prayer and righteousness. Drawing from biblical teachings, he warns against hypocrisy and the danger of turning sacred places into dens of thieves, urging believers to seek inner cleansing and a deeper relationship with God.
The Wretched Man Syndrome
By Lewis Gregory88742:31Sinful NatureMAT 23:24ROM 7:72CO 5:17GAL 6:7REV 3:17The video titled "Falling Down" tells the story of a frustrated man who becomes increasingly disillusioned with the injustices and indifference he sees in society. His frustration leads him to act out in ways that eventually result in his arrest. The video emphasizes the limitations of knowledge and education, stating that they can only provide information and not true understanding. The apostle Paul's experience in Romans 7 is referenced, highlighting the need for deliverance through Jesus Christ.
Unreached People Year 2000
By George Verwer85752:07Unreached PeopleMAT 6:33MAT 23:24MRK 16:15ROM 10:14In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding and spreading the vision of world missions. They acknowledge that only a remnant of people truly grasp the significance of this task. The speaker encourages the audience to consider themselves part of God's grassroots movement for missions and to share the principles discussed with others. They also highlight the principle of indigenization, stating that the vision for world evangelization must be embraced by the church in each nation, rather than being imposed from outside. The speaker notes that some countries, particularly in the third world, are ahead of England in terms of missions vision and engagement.
The Rest Versus Babylon
By Robert B. Thompson6481:18:58GEN 1:2MAT 5:14MAT 23:24ACT 9:15ROM 8:19HEB 4:2HEB 4:10In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of rest in the context of the Bible. He compares the rest of God to various analogies, including Joshua bringing Israel into the land. The preacher emphasizes that the devil is not afraid of large prayer meetings or assertive actions by the church, but rather fears when individuals interact with Jesus. He also highlights the importance of ceasing from our own works and entering into the vision that God has for us through faith and obedience.
Pharisees Strain Out Mosquitoes and Swallow Camels
By Zac Poonen0HypocrisyTrue ObedienceMIC 6:8MAT 22:37MAT 23:24LUK 11:42JHN 13:34ROM 13:10GAL 5:141TI 1:5JAS 1:221JN 4:20Zac Poonen emphasizes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who meticulously focus on trivial matters while neglecting the weightier commands of Scripture. He illustrates this inconsistency by comparing their actions to straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel, highlighting the importance of prioritizing love and obedience to God over mere outward appearances. Poonen critiques the tendency of some Christians to excel in superficial religious practices, such as memorizing Scripture for competitions, while failing to embody the true essence of the gospel, which is love. He calls for a genuine pursuit of love for God and others as the ultimate goal of the Christian life, urging believers to recognize and act on what truly matters. The sermon challenges listeners to reflect on their priorities and align their actions with the core teachings of Christ.
Day 77, Mark 12
By David Servant0MAT 23:24MRK 1:4MRK 11:25MRK 12:33LUK 3:3LUK 12:48LUK 17:3ACT 2:38David Servant delves into the importance of forgiveness as highlighted in Mark 11, emphasizing the necessity of forgiving others in order to receive forgiveness from God. True forgiveness leads to reconciliation, which involves confronting the offender and seeking repentance. God forgives those who repent, and Jesus instructs us to rebuke and forgive those who sin against us. It is crucial to prioritize loving God and others over religious rituals and traditions, as demonstrated by the scribe who understood the weight of these commandments.
Re-Examining Revival in the Church
By Larry R. Sinclair0JOB 1:8ISA 25:8MAT 23:241CO 15:542CO 5:4EPH 6:10HEB 11:291PE 5:8REV 12:16The preacher discusses the Greek word 'katapino,' which means to swallow up completely or cause sudden destruction. He emphasizes how our enemy seeks to bring spiritual ruin, weaken our faith, and replace it with fear. By relying on God's strength, believers can resist the enemy and claim victory through faith, obedience, and prayer. The sermon warns about Satan's tactics to devour believers and highlights the importance of being alert, submitting to one another, humbling ourselves, casting our cares on the Lord, and being watchful to resist the enemy's attacks.
Staying the Plague
By Derek Melton0MAT 6:24MAT 23:24COL 3:2JAS 4:41JN 2:15Derek Melton addresses the dangerous trend in modern churches where superficial and temporal activities are exalted above eternal divine principles, leading to a decline in spiritual vitality and a focus on frivolous religious fads. This internal dysfunction causes believers to prioritize insignificant matters over weightier truths, resulting in a spiritual coldness and a pursuit of self-gratification rather than God's Word. The urgent call is to realign our focus, rejecting the pursuit of self-worth and embracing repentance, dying to self, faith, evangelism, and missions to combat this spiritual influenza and restore true Christianity.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat--The proper rendering--as in the older English translations, and perhaps our own as it came from the translators' hands--evidently is, "strain out." It was the custom, says TRENCH, of the stricter Jews to strain their wine, vinegar, and other potables through linen or gauze, lest unawares they should drink down some little unclean insect therein and thus transgress (Lev 11:20, Lev 11:23, Lev 11:41-42) --just as the Buddhists do now in Ceylon and Hindustan--and to this custom of theirs our Lord here refers. and swallow a camel--the largest animal the Jews knew, as the "gnat" was the smallest; both were by the law unclean.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,.... Our Lord cannot be thought to bear too hard upon these men, nor does he continue this character of them, and denunciations of woe against them, without a reason: for ye make clean the outside of the cup and platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. The allusion is to their traditions about washing their cups and pots, and brazen vessels; see Mar 7:4 which they strictly observed. In their oral law is a whole tract, called "Mikvaot", which gives rules about the places where they washed, the things to be washed, and the manner of washing them; about which they were very nice, pretending to much outward cleanness, but had no regard to inward purity. Christ's sense is, that they took much pains, and were very careful, that the cup they drank out of, and the platter, or dish they ate out of, should be very clean; when at the same time, the food and drink that were within them, were got by oppression and rapine; by devouring widows' houses, by making undue claims upon, and extorting unjust sums from the fatherless, the poor, and the needy; and were abused by them, to luxury and intemperance. In like manner the Jews themselves say of hypocrites (w), "They make show of a pure and clean soul, but under it lies hid a leprosy: they are like to "vessels full of uncleanness"; they are outwardly washed with the water of fraud and craftiness; but whatsoever is within, in the midst or them, is unclean. The Vulgate Latin version of the text, instead of "excess", reads "uncleanness", and so does Munster's Hebrew Gospel: many copies read "unrighteousness". Excess is thought to be a sin the Pharisees were not guilty of, though they were of extortion, injustice, and uncleanness, (w) R. Sol Gabirol in Cether Malcuth apud L. Capell in loc.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
23:24 gnat . . . camel: These words form a pun in Aramaic (qalma . . . gamla), the language Jesus probably spoke.