Daily Readings - Tue Aug 27 2019
Matthew
23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you collect tithes on mint and dill and cumin, but you have abandoned the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, while not omitting the others24You blind guides, straining out a gnat, while swallowing a camel25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you clean what is outside the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of avarice and impurity26You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, and then what is outside becomes clean
Sermon
The Gospel reading today is a powerful critique by Jesus against the scribes and Pharisees, highlighting their hypocrisy and misplaced priorities. Jesus condemns them for meticulously observing minor details of the law, such as tithing on herbs like mint, dill, and cumin, while neglecting the far more important aspects of the law: judgment, mercy, and faith. He uses vivid imagery to illustrate their spiritual blindness, comparing them to those who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. This metaphor underscores how they focus on trivial matters while ignoring the weightier issues of justice and compassion. Jesus further criticizes their obsession with outward appearances, such as cleaning the outside of cups and dishes, while inwardly they are filled with greed and impurity. He calls them to first clean the inside of the cup, implying that true purity must begin from within.
This passage is part of Jesus’ broader denunciation of the Pharisees in Matthew 23, where he exposes their hypocrisy and calls them to authentic faith. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to Jewish law, but their focus on external rituals often led them to neglect the heart of the law, which is love and mercy. Jesus’ words here are not a rejection of the law itself but a call to prioritize its deeper, spiritual dimensions over superficial practices. He is emphasizing that true religion is not about outward appearances or meticulous rule-keeping but about the condition of the heart.
In our daily lives, this passage invites us to reflect on our own priorities and practices. Are we guilty of focusing on the “gnats” of religious observance while neglecting the “camels” of justice, mercy, and love? Do we, like the Pharisees, clean the outside of the cup while leaving the inside stained with greed, anger, or pride? Jesus’ words challenge us to examine our hearts and ensure that our faith is not merely external but deeply rooted in a genuine relationship with God. Let us strive to live lives of integrity, where our outward actions flow from a heart that is pure, compassionate, and just. True holiness begins within, and only then can it radiate outward in a way that honors God and serves others.