Matthew 23:24, Jesus said, “Ye blind guides, which STRAIN at a GNAT, and swallow a camel.”
Let’s examine the word, Strain:
Greek is, diulizo. feminine gender. To filter or strain out through a sieve, strainer, etc. As implying to strain out, a transitive verb, expressing action that passes from the agent to the object.
Matthew 23:24, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat.” Compare with,
Amos 6:6, They, “That drink wine in bowels.”
The second word is, Gnat, Greek is, konops. A gnat, an insect of the genus culex. It breeds and is found in wine and vinegar,
Matthew 23:24, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat.”
Those Jews’ who lived by the law, and judged by the law, would strain their wine and vinegar through linen or gauss cloth. Why? So they would not drink down one of these little creatures, thus transgressing the Law written in Leviticus.
Leviticus 11:20-23-41-42, “Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.”
Let’s compare a camel to a gnat. A camel is the largest animal the Jews’ had to deal with. The gnat was the smallest of insects for the Jews to deal with, so we know that Jesus comment to them was understood.
This was the forth woe by Jesus in Matthew 23. This woe to the Pharisees and teachers of the law relating to the pharisaic practice of their excessive tithing of all they had. They carried this practice of tithing down to the smallest of plants, such as mint, dill and cumin.
In their zeal to strictly follow the Levitical law, they had failed to attend to the major issues which were charity, justice, mercy and faithfulness. These also were demanded by the Law.
The Pharisees majored on the minors, straining out a gnat from their wine and vinegar so as not to break the law. Busy with the small things, things of a lesser importance, yet in their zeal they neglected the much larger areas of love, compassion, righteousness, and faithfulness to man and God.
The lesson; If you see a small insect in your food please remove it, but don’t forget to give to the poor, visit the sick, pray for the needy.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com