The Men of Iron Minute

by Chad Zueck | Director of Content Creation

Straining Gnats and Swallowing Camels

Jesus is a savage. Not in the out-of-control, unreliable sense, but in that, he regularly used his masculine frame to confront injustice, hypocrisy, and evil. The Pharisees and Sadducees were the usual suspects that deserved and demanded his rebuke. Jesus turned over tables of injustice, broke through gender and barrier lines, and confronted evil tactfully. Here’s one such example of Jesus’ savagery.

“You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” Matthew 23:24, NIV84

With precision and purpose, Jesus dismantled the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb. Make no mistake, men. The hypocrites being called to the carpet were doing a good thing. Still, they were shortsighted in the more important matters of the law- justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). The Pharisees have become verbal punching bags. Still, they are an ancient portrayal of our current way of life. Hence, we can easily miss the most important thing, although it is right before our faces. The Holy Spirit is our helper, and other men help too. Other men become a voice in the wilderness for us while we traverse the wilds of life. Other men give a nudge in the right direction. Friends and mentors share their lives and transferrable virtues to help us win!

So the next time (and there’s always a next time), you get ready to miss something; hopefully, a friend or mentor will guide you with accountability and motivate you to action.

The next time you are ready to strain a gnat, ensure there isn’t a camel you’re avoiding.

Be a mentor.

Find a mentor.

Be a better man.

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