Matthew 23:24-26

Matthew 23:24-26
In these verses, Jesus continues to explain His principle of meticulously caring about the details of obeying the Law in the ways that were visible to others while neglecting the weightier matters of the Law.
Both a gnat and a camel were unclean to the Jews (Lev. 11). Therefore, the Pharisees would carefully strain their drinks to make sure they did not ingest the tiniest gnat and therefore become unclean. But they paid little attention to the uncleanness of their heart and thus swallowed an entire “camel.” This is a good time to point out that the Lord was not without humor. Who could not smile when visualizing this picture!
Can you imagine being a guest in a home where the lady of the house had carefully shined the outside every cup and saucer, but when you peered inside you found it full of filth? This was exactly the character of the Pharisees. They carefully “cleaned up” their outward appearance before men so as to seem perfectly righteous, but their inner life was as filthy as any open sinner. They were full of greed and self-indulgence. In other words, they did not give their lives for the salvation of others. They were anything but sacrificial. Their only concern was their own position and comfort.
Jesus’ admonition to begin with the “inside” is critical to righteous living. Our primary concern cannot be how we appear to others. Our primary concern must be how we appear to God. We must take care of who we are, in which case, how we appear before the world will take care of itself.
Berry Kercheville