Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Matthew 23:24 - King James

Verse         Translation Text
Mt 23:24 King James Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All
 
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat--The proper rendering--as in the older English translations, and perhaps our own as it came from the translators' hands--evidently is, "strain out." It was the custom, says TRENCH, of the stricter Jews to strain their wine, vinegar, and other potables through linen or gauze, lest unawares they should drink down some little unclean insect therein and thus transgress (Lev 11:20, Lev 11:23, Lev 11:41-42) --just as the Buddhists do now in Ceylon and Hindustan--and to this custom of theirs our Lord here refers.

and swallow a camel--the largest animal the Jews knew, as the "gnat" was the smallest; both were by the law unclean.
 
Top
41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.
4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.
42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.
23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.
20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.