Gnats And Camels

By Grant Phillips / Rapture Ready

“Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” (Matthew 23:24)

“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (Matthew 23:24 NASB)

Jesus said these words to the scribes and Pharisees. When drinking wine or water they would use a cloth to strain out a gnat that may have somehow gotten into their drink. On the other hand, when it came to their spiritual lives, Jesus said they would swallow a camel. What did He mean by this? He was simply saying that they would go to great lengths to keep impurities from entering their bodies, but offered no resistance to spiritual impurities that entered their souls.

What can this statement that Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees say to us today?

First of all, let us realize that He was speaking to religious leaders, but not leaders who were of God. Simply put in our language of today, they were not Christians. However, this doesn’t just apply to religious leaders of today that are without Christ, but to all, leaders or not, who are without Christ but act sanctimoniously.

This reminds me of a television sitcom that ran from 1993 to 2004 called “Frasier.” Sex was free and easy within the Frasier household and among his acquaintances. He refused to tell a lie because it was not within his code of honor, but he would shack up with just about any female who wore a skirt. The same was true of his dad Martin who lived with him and his co-worker Roz, and well, everybody else. Now that is a good example of “strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.”

Society talks constantly about love and equates it with sex, but hates those who say sex should be limited to the marriage bed between a husband and his wife (man and woman).

In the same breath, homosexuality is promoted as love between two of the same sex, but totally ignores what God has to say about the subject. It is a sin, period.

Politicians pass “hate” laws, but ignore true justice for all. For that matter, Congress is exempt from many of the laws the members pass, for example; discrimination laws.

Many so-called leaders of the church convince their members they are servants of Christ, but in actuality they are nothing but charlatans out for a quick buck.

With a smile we speak to another, and later that sharp blade from our mouth is driven deep into that same person’s back.

Some proclaim, “help the unfortunate,” but drive by their house in limousines while they die in their beds.

We preach fairness to all, but are dishonest in our businesses. We steal from our employers with the excuse, “they won’t miss it.”

Much of our time is spent in helping the youth in our community, but we neglect our own children.

Some go to nursing homes to bring comfort to the elderly, but ignore their own parents who raised them.

The court sentences a man for murdering another man, but upholds the murder of babies in their mother’s wombs. Empathy is applied to a mass murderer, defending them at the cost of thousands from tax payers, but little to no regard is offered the

victim.

continue at Rapture Ready:

http://raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips140.html