A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Straining at Gnats"

The teenager's eyes were riveted on mine as she sternly stated, "You are so legalistic! This church needs to lighten up!" This potent reply came in the midst of a discussion about some of the standards of the church. It is not an unusual reply when addressing this subject. Most people do not like to be told what they should or should not do. But, we should not brush off this accusation too lightly, for legalism is a very real danger for Christians. One of Jesus' most severe reprimands dealt with this very issue: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices mint, dill, and cummin. But you have neglected the important matters of the law justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." (Matthew 23:23-24)

The Pharisees' problem was that they had gotten so caught up with the minutiae, that they were blind to what really mattered loving God and loving people. Before quickly pointing a accusing finger at these teachers of the law and Pharisees, we should place ourselves under the Spirit's search light. How often have we been more concerned about how a person is dressed than about what their need is? How often have we been quick to accuse and judge, instead of offering mercy? How often have we praised the one who gives the substantial donation to the church, while forgetting to give the place of honor to the poor among us? How often have we "followed the rules," but neglected to "lay down our lives" for the hurting person next door? Have often do we drop the tithe into the offering plate with a sense of pride, but fail to share the bread of life with the thousands of spiritually hungry surrounding us? How often have we done our trip to church in order to keep the Sabbath, but failed to forgive the one who wronged us? It is easier, it seems, to deal with the black and white rigidity of the law than with less qualifiable works of mercy, justice, and faithfulness. But we are not "made new in Christ" to do the easier. We are made new and empowered by the Spirit to live holy! Doing the easier is straining at gnats and swallowing camels and we are guilty of it more than we are willing to admit.

Yes, legalism, straining at gnats, is a danger and we must be prayerfully diligent to keep from falling prey to this trap. But, the twin danger to legalism is liberalism and it is just as lethal. Jesus' reprimand was not about straining at gnats. He did not tell them to stop doing what they were doing. He even noted the importance of obedience to His commands by saying, "without neglecting the former." (Matthew 23:23d) His reprimand was about doing one without doing the other. Whereas legalism deals with the minute details of outward law, liberalism focuses on mushy mercy and justice, that virtually disregards the importance of God's high standard of holiness. We are not to lower His standard. Our problem lies in either, our paying such close attention to the standards that we neglect loving God and our neighbor, or our offering a mushy "believe what you want just love God" mercy that disregards God's holy standard. (Matthew 22:38-39) Keeping the balance necessary to avoid these twin traps is not easy. Nevertheless we must keep that balance. It is essential.

Jesus gives the key to keeping the balance. It is simply to obey the greatest commandments; to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. "All of the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments,"Jesus explains. (Matthew 22:40) Truly obeying these commandments will bring everything into balance.

Beloved, let's love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves and let the abiding Holy Spirit do the gnat straining.

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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