Mateus 23

Mateus 23

Vincent - Insects were ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 11:20, 23, 41, 42), so that the Jews strained their wine in order not to swallow any unclean animal. Moreover, there were certain insects which bred in wine. Aristotle uses the word gnat (κώνωπα) of a worm or larva found in the sediment of sour wine. "In a ride from Tangier to Tetuan I observed that a Moorish soldier who accompanied me, when he drank, always unfolded the end of his turban and placed it over the mouth of his bota, drinking through the muslin to strain out the gnats, whose larvae swarm in the water of that country" (cited by Trench, "On the Authorized Version"). QUESTION - What does it mean to strain at a gnat but swallow a camel? GOTQUESTIONS.ORG ANSWER - This proverb is spoken by Jesus in Matthew 23:24. On His last trip to Jerusalem, Jesus spoke at length about life under the oppressive reign of the Pharisees. The religious leaders tested Him continually “and plotted how to entangle him in his words” (Matthew 22:15). In Matthew 23, Jesus pronounced seven woes against the scribes and Pharisees, accusing them of hypocrisy, laying heavy burdens on the people, exalting themselves, and preventing people from entering God’s kingdom. He was especially harsh in His assessment of their strict adherence to the laws of tithing while they “neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23). He concludes by saying, “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel” (verse 24). The KJV translates the first part of the proverb as “strain at a gnat.” That wording gives the impression of choking while trying to swallow the gnat while easily gulping down the camel. But the better translation is “strain out a gnat.” The Greek word refers to straining water through a cloth or sieve to remove impurities. The GNT translates it this way: “You strain a fly out of your drink, but swallow a camel!” The Jews had a law that forbade eating any flying insects that did not have jointed legs for hopping (Leviticus 11:20–23), and in this they were strictly observant. Because water could have insects and insect larvae in it, pious Jews were careful to strain the water through a cloth before drinking it. They did not want to accidentally ingest an unclean insect and thus violate the law. Jesus mentions this practice in His proverb and then contrasts it with a hyperbolic picture of gulping down a camel. In this way, Jesus accused them of taking great pains (straining out gnats) to avoid offence in minor things of little importance, while tolerating or committing great sins (swallowing camels) such as deceit, oppression, and lust. Christ’s fifth woe relates to the same type of hypocrisy (Matthew 23:25–26). All Jewish sects agreed on the need to wash their dishes in order to maintain their ceremonial cleanness, but Jesus pointed out that it is senseless to clean the outside of a cup and leave the inside filthy. But this is exactly what the actions of the Jewish leaders achieved. They focused on outward behavior but neglected the most important commands—loving God and one another. They strained at a gnat, mistakenly believing that external conformity to the law was enough, while not seeing that the evil in their hearts was a camel-sized problem. The Pharisees were scrupulous in counting out their mint leaves and tithing their “dill and cumin” (verse 23), but their hearts were full of envy, pride, greed, and malice. They strained at the gnat of ceremony, but they ignored the camel of sin in their hearts. Related Resources: What made some animals clean and others unclean (Genesis 7)? Matthew 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. KJV Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. BGT Matthew 23:25 Οὐαὶ ὑμῖν, γραμματεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι καθαρίζετε τὸ ἔξωθεν τοῦ ποτηρίου καὶ τῆς παροψίδος, ἔσωθεν δὲ γέμουσιν ἐξ ἁρπαγῆς καὶ ἀκρασίας. NET Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. CSB Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! ESV Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. NIV Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. NLT Matthew 23:25 "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy-- full of greed and self-indulgence! YLT Matthew 23:25 'Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye make clean the outside of the cup and the plate, and within they are full of rapine and incontinence. MIT Matthew 23:25 How horrible your destiny, scholars and Pharisees, charlatans all, because you wash the outside of your cup and dish, but the interior remains untouched—full of plunder and greed. NJB Matthew 23:25 'Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. NRS Matthew 23:25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. for: Mt 15:19,20 Mk 7:4-13 Lu 11:39,40 full: Isa 28:7,8 ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION OF THEIR GROSS HYPOCRISY Woe (ouai) to you, scribes (grammateus) and Pharisees (pharisaios), hypocrites (hupokrites) - This is the 5th out of 7 times Jesus has called them hypocrites in Matthew 23, and here illustrates how their outward behavior (ceremonially immaculate) did not line up with their inward disposition (spiritually squalid and repulsive)! For (term of explanation) - Jesus explains the "Woe!" You clean (katharizo - present tense) the outside of the cup (poterion) and of the dish (side-dish, with the accompanying sense of something dainty), but (term of contrast) inside they are full (gemo) of robbery (harpage - greed, extortion, plunder) and self-indulgence (akrasia) - The word for robbery (harpage) describes plundering, pillaging, and extortion. The word self-indulgence (akrasia) implies a lack of self-control and unrestrained self-gratification. And why did they clean the outside? They did it to be seen by and honored by men! Grant Osborne: The next four verses are dominated by the “outside-inside” (ἔξωθεν-ἔσωθεν) distinction, forming the perfect definition of hypocrisy as stemming from the dichotomy between “outward” appearance and “inward” reality. Jesus uses as his example the care with which the scribes wash the outside surface of cups and plates. (See Matthew - Page 852) John MacArthur helps us understand this illustration - The Greek phrase behind dish (paropsis) was often used of a platter on which exquisite delicacies were served. The idea is of a person who offers a guest a seemingly lovely meal served with the best wine. But it turns out that, although the utensils are beautiful and ceremonially purified, the food served on them was putrid....The unscrupulous religious leaders robbed the people they were supposed to serve in order to satisfy their own greed. They plundered both the souls and the wallets of the people and used the ill-gotten gains to serve themselves. (See Matthew Commentary - Page 385) Clean (2511) katharizo rom katharos = pure, clean, without stain or spot; English words - catharsis = emotional or physical purging, cathartic = substance used to induce a purging, Cathar = member of a medieval sect which sought the purging of evil from its members) means to make clean by taking away an undesirable part. To cleanse from filth or impurity. Click here (and here) for more background on the important Biblical concept of clean and cleansing. Figuratively katharizo referred to cleansing from ritual contamination or impurity as in (Acts 10:15). In a similar sense katharizo is used of cleansing lepers from ceremonial uncleanness (Mt 8:2-3, et al) This word group conveys the idea of physical, religious, and moral cleanness or purity in such senses as clean, free from stains or shame, and free from adulteration. In secular Greek katharizo occurs in inscriptions for ceremonial cleansing. Robbery (seizure)(724) harpage from harpazo = to seize and carry off with force, of the "Rapture" 1 Thes 4:17! from the root harp---, seen in Eng., "rapacious;" an associated noun, with the same spelling, denoted a rake, or hook for drawing up a bucket) means robbery, pillage, plunder, extortion, that which has been stolen such as loot or prey. In the New Testament harpagē is that which was gained unlawfully by the Pharisees and which was gained by extortion. (See Matthew 23:25.) In Hebrews 10:34 it is used of that which was taken from the Christians illegally and for which they were compensated by a better possession. Note that in Luke 11:39 it can refer to the desire in the heart of a man to indulge in gain that comes from greediness. Friberg on harpage - (1) as an action of carrying off someone's belongings by force robbery, plundering (Heb 10.34); (2) concretely what has been seized, plunder, booty (probably Mt 23.25); (3) as an attitude greediness, covetousness (Lk 11.39). Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament Self-indulgence (192)(akrasia from akrates = incontinent from a = without + krátos = strength, prevail) means properly, conduct which shows a want of power over one's self' incontinence or intemperance, lack of dominion (not prevailing), i.e. inability to maintain control; figuratively, want of self-restraint, without self-control, and therefore mastered by personal appetites (urges). Only 2 uses in NT - Mt 23:25 1 Cor 7:5 Matthew 23:26 “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. KJV Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. BGT Matthew 23:26 Φαρισαῖε τυφλέ, καθάρισον πρῶτον τὸ ἐντὸς τοῦ ποτηρίου, ἵνα γένηται καὶ τὸ ἐκτὸς αὐτοῦ καθαρόν. NET Matthew 23:26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too! CSB Matthew 23:26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean. ESV Matthew 23:26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. NIV Matthew 23:26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. NLT Matthew 23:26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too. YLT Matthew 23:26 'Blind Pharisee! cleanse first the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside of them also may become clean. MIT Matthew 23:26 Blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of your cup, so its interior may be clean as well as the outside. NJB Matthew 23:26 Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that it and the outside are both clean. NRS Matthew 23:26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. cleanse: Mt 12:33 Isa 55:7 Jer 4:14 13:27 Eze 18:31 Lu 6:45 2Co 7:1 Heb 10:22 Jas 4:8 CLEAN THE CUP OF YOUR HEART You blind (tuphlos) Pharisee (pharisaios), first clean (katharizo - aorist imperative - only possible by depending on the Holy Spirit) the inside of the cup and of the dish - They were blind to their spiritual condition of internal corruption! It is notable that Jesus shifted from addressing them in the plural to speaking in the second person singular (Pharisee), thus giving His command a personal ring. The verb clean (katharizo - aorist imperative) was calling for them to do this immediately and ultimately commanding an action only possible by depending on the Holy Spirit. In a sense, He was telling them (at least indirectly) of their need to be born again, to get a new heart, a circumcised heart. (See Circumcision of the Heart). So that - Term of purpose. What's the purpose? The outside of it may become clean also - Jesus is saying that if they wanted "kosher" food, they needed to cleanse the inside of the cup or dish even more than the outside. The external purity would proceed from the internal purity. Of course, Jesus is now addressing the heart of their problem which was their unclean hearts, with belied their external cleanliness. David