Daily Writing

Thursday, 22 October 2026

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Matthew 23:27

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! Because you resemble tombs having been whitewashed, which outwardly, indeed, they appear beautiful. Inwardly, also, they swell – ‘bones, dead’ and all impurity.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus finished His sixth woe to the scribes and Pharisees. He now begins His seventh woe, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites!”

Without letting up a bit, Jesus repeats the same thought He has already stated several times. If nothing else, this type of repetitive speech provides its own emphasis for the people to consider. With that introductory thought stated, He next says, “Because you resemble tombs having been whitewashed.”

Three new words are seen here. The first is paromoiazó, to resemble or be like. It is only found here in the New Testament. The next is taphos, a tomb. It is derived from thaptó, to celebrate funeral rites. The third is koniaó, to whitewash. It is derived from konia, dust. Thus, the sense of whitening is understood. It is used only here and in Acts 23:3.

Tombs are places for burial of the dead. Throughout human history, monuments have been set up to honor and remember those who have died. Whitewashing a tomb is something anyone would understand. Because the tombs were whitewashed, Jesus says, “which outwardly, indeed, they appear beautiful.”

Another new word is seen, hóraios, belonging to the right hour or season. By implication, it means to be flourishing or beautiful. That is the point of whitewashing. After time, things break down, appearances get moldy or blasted by heat and wind, etc. In order to keep things looking good, a layer of whitewash is needed from time to time. For those who see it, depending on who is inside, there may be fond memories or feelings of honor.

There is a truth about this, however, that most people don’t take the time to think about. And yet, with one exception, it is universal in its scope. Jesus says, “Inwardly, also, they swell – ‘bones, dead’ and all impurity.”

Two more new words are seen to finish off this verse. The first is osteon, bone. One can see the etymological ancestor of our prefix osteo, such as in osteoporosis. The second is akatharsia, impurity, both physically and morally.

Of this verse, Charles Ellicott says, “Ye are like unto whited sepulchres.—Contact with a sepulchre brought with it ceremonial uncleanness, and all burial-places were accordingly white-washed once a year, on the 15th day of the month Adar—i.e., about the beginning of March—that passers-by might be warned by them, as they were of the approach of a leper by his cry, ‘Unclean, unclean!’”

Life application: The words of Jesus in this woe resemble those of the previous woe in that they speak of outward appearances while the inward is corrupt. Sometimes, this occurs because people think they are better than those around them, or that they have a right to do things they shouldn’t do for whatever illogical reason they make up in their heads.

Others may do things they shouldn’t do without really thinking through their actions. You are at work, and there is something you want, but you have no right to it. In such cases, we may try to justify in our own minds that taking it is ok. Maybe if I swap something else for what I am taking, it will balance things out.

Or we might think, “The boss doesn’t care if I take this. He’s a good guy and won’t mind.” Have you asked if it’s ok to do what you are doing? Probably not, if you have to make up excuses in your head.

We are being evaluated based on how we interact with the world around us. Taking something that doesn’t belong to you is stealing. Saying untrue things is lying. Let each of us continuously evaluate ourselves, determining that we will not do such things, even if it involves something that may seem inconsequential.

Lord God, may our lives and actions be carefully aligned with Your will. Help each of us to be honest, truthful, and always the epitome of integrity to those we come in contact with. Yes, may it be so. Amen.

Wednesday, 21 October 2026

Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Matthew 23:26

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“‘Pharisee, blind’! You cleanse first the ‘within the cup and the side-dish’ that it might be, also the outward of them, clean.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus chided the hypocritical Pharisees for cleaning the outside of the cup and side-dish while the inside was full of pillage and unrestraint. He continues that now, saying, “‘Pharisee, blind’!”

Changing “Pharisees” to “Pharisee” makes Jesus’ address more personal. It is an appeal for the individual to change his thinking and act with wisdom. That change continues with the next words, “You cleanse first the ‘within the cup and the side-dish’.”

The verb “you cleanse” remains in the singular. Jesus appeals to each Pharisee to come out from the herd thinking and lifestyle to make a change suitable to be free from his previous aberrant thinking and actions. A new word is seen in this clause, entos, within. It will only be seen here and in Luke 17:21. Jesus next speaks of the result of cleaning the “within” of the dishes, saying, “that it might be, also the outward of them, clean.”

Another new word is seen here, ektos, outward. It can be used to figuratively mean “except” or “besides.” Through this example, Jesus turns their thinking upside down. Cleaning the outside of the cup carefully while neglecting the inside doesn’t help purify the food that is placed in the dish.

As such, if the food is pure before it is put in the cup, and if it remains pure after it is put in because the inside of the cup is pure, then the outside of the cup is made clean without any extra purification. Of this, the Pulpit Commentary says, “So in the case of the moral agent, the ceremonial purity is a mockery and hypocrisy unless it be accompanied by holiness of the heart.”

The point is that Jesus equates the inside and outside of the dishes to the internal and external lives of these men. Unless they purify their insides, the outward showiness is nothing. They remain defiled.

“For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, ‘May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone ¹⁹ who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.’ ²⁰ And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.” 2 Chronicles 30:18-19

Life application: Jesus’ example is plain enough for each of us to consider. What is it about our lives that hides away corruption? Until we get such things cleared up, we may present a decent outward appearance, but the Lord is certainly displeased with our internal state.

And these things come in many degrees and variations. Almost daily, there will be an article about a pastor, priest, missionary, youth minister, etc., who secretly hides away disturbing traits.

Some steal from the church – some are pedophiles, etc. If those who represent the church are inclined to do these things, it is likely that some of us are as well. Staying close to the Lord, reading His word, and applying its lessons to our lives are ways we can crucify the flesh, cleanse our inward inclinations, and thus be presentable to the Lord in our walk before Him.

Let us endeavor to do these. In doing them, we will do well.

Lord God, help us to live lives that honor You, not just as an outward pretense, but as a core part of who we are. May what is inside be pure and honorable as we interact with You and with others in these lives You have given us. Amen.

Tuesday, 20 October 2026

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Matthew 23:25

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! Because you cleanse the ‘outwardly, the cup and the side-dish’. Inwardly, also, they swell from pillage and unrestraint.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus finished His fifth woe pronouncement upon the scribes and Pharisees. With that complete, He immediately moves to the sixth, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites!”

In Isaiah, the Lord pronounces a series of woes upon the people of the land. They had acted wickedly and would be punished for their conduct. The same Lord came and stood among the people. His pronouncements upon the scribes and Pharisees will end in no less judgment than what the people received in the past.

One would think the direct and truthful nature of Jesus’ words would have affected them, but they continued down their stubborn path. For now, Jesus continues His words, saying, “Because you cleanse the ‘outwardly, the cup and the side-dish’.”

New words are seen. The first is the adverb exóthen, outside, outward, etc. It is derived from exó, external. Being an adverb, saying “the outside” fails to give the proper sense. The second new word is paropsis, a side-dish.

It is derived from para, near or beside, and opsarion, a relish to other food (as if cooked sauce), but specifically fish. The word is found only here and in the next verse. The cup and side dish are outwardly clean. This refers to what is outside, which is evident to all.

Thus, there is the sense of doing things for show. However, there is an underlying problem that the Lord sees, even if it is not outwardly evident to others. He continues, saying, “Inwardly, also, they swell from pillage and unrestraint.”

Three new words are seen here. The first is gemó, to swell out and thus full. HELPS Word Studies says it signifies “totally characterized by (in every sense).” The next word is harpagé, pillage. Thus, abstractly, it refers to extortion, ravening, or spoiling. It is derived from the word harpazó, to snatch away, as what will take place at the rapture.

In this case, the usage identifies a violently greedy attitude among these men. That is accompanied by the third new word of the clause, akrasia, want of self-restraint. Thus, it means excess or incontinence. It is only seen again in 1 Corinthians 7:5.

The Lord, who reads the hearts and minds, sees beyond the exterior appearance of these men, knowing that inside there is corruption and wickedness.

Life application: Remember that Paul was a Pharisee. He is one of the men Jesus is speaking to at this time. He was outwardly showy, but inwardly corrupt. This attitude is seen in his early appearances in Acts. The chance of him waking up and realizing his corrupt state before the Lord was extremely thin. However, by an act of grace, He was offered salvation and a chance to serve the Lord with his life.

After his conversion, he pressed forward in Christ, never forgetting who he was or the depths from which the Lord had pulled him. Imagine it! One of Israel’s elites was a great offender who later acknowledged how terrible he truly was –

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. ¹⁶ However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” 1 Timothy 1:15, 16

Understanding Paul’s words, think about how they reflect our own state before the Lord. Paul says he was a pattern to those who are going to believe. What we have received in Christ was unmerited. We may not have been as bad as the scribes and Pharisees in one way, but we may have been far worse than them in others.

No person deserves grace. It is unmerited favor. As this is true, there is nothing you can do to earn it. Therefore, the life we now live in Christ should be one that is grateful, willing to serve, and filled with thanks at all times. If we start feeling smug in our salvation, looking down on others, all we need to do is remember that we stand before the Lord solely because of His grace.

Let us remain humble and willing to share the good news with others at all times. It is God who deserves all the glory for having pulled us out of the pit we were in. Praise God for His goodness to us.

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

Lord God, thank You for looking down on each of us, miserable sinners, and seeing something of value in what we could become. Because of Your love for Your creatures, You were willing to do the unimaginable. Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday, 19 October 2026

Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!  Matthew 23:24

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“‘Guides, blind’! The ‘through-filtering the gnat’, the ‘also camel gulping’.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus began His fifth woe against the scribes and Pharisees, noting that they paid tithes of the little things but forsook the weightier things expected of them. He next chastises them for this conduct, beginning with, “‘Guides, blind’!”

Jesus has already used this same thought against Israel’s leaders in Matthew 15:14 and 23:16. The idea of their failed leadership is somewhat reflected in Proverbs 28:10 –

“Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
But the blameless will inherit good.”

Being Israel’s leaders, they were accountable for being proper examples to the people. However, they caused the people to go astray. In doing so, they would fall into their own pit. Unfortunately, they would cause those they were supposed to lead to fall into it as well. The example they set forth is stated by Jesus, “The ‘through-filtering the gnat’.”

There are two new words here. The first is diulizó. It is from dia, through, and hulizo, to filter. Thus, it means to thoroughly filter something out. The second is kónóps, a gnat. The derivation of the word is debated. Aristotle identified it as the wine-gnat or midge that is bred in (fermenting and) evaporating wine. Others use the word to describe a gnat.

In regard to the tithe, they meticulously filtered out any chance of not meeting the expectation set forth by the law. One can see them weighing out ten percent of the mint, dill, and cummin, getting to the last seed to make sure everyone was aware that they wouldn’t cheat a single grain. And yet, Jesus next says of them that they are “the ‘also camel gulping’.”

Another new word is seen, katapinó, to gulp entirely. It is from kata, down against, and pinó, to imbibe. The reason for straining out the gnat is found in Leviticus –

“All flying insects that creep on all fours shall be an abomination to you.” Leviticus 20:11

Jesus equates their scrupulous tithing of the herbs to someone who would strain out everything they drank to ensure not a single gnat would enter their mouth, causing them to violate the law. And yet, they would willingly gulp down an entire camel –

“Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, ² ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying, “These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth: ³ Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud—that you may eat. ⁴ Nevertheless these you shall not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have cloven hooves: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; ⁵ the rock hyrax, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; ⁶ the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have cloven hooves, is unclean to you; ⁷ and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. ⁸ Their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. They are unclean to you.”’” Leviticus 11:1-8

This is the largest animal specifically mentioned in the list of unclean animals. Therefore, the contrast is made all the more striking. The scribes and Pharisees spent so much time on what was of lesser importance, and they openly ignored what was of the highest importance.

Life application: The major biblical focus on the law versus grace is seen from the first words of the Lord to man in Genesis 2 until the last words of the Bible in Revelation 22. When considered as one reads through Scripture, it is evident that this is the main theme concerning pleasing God in all of the Bible.

The law demands the work of man to accomplish. Grace requires that we have faith to accept that what God has done is as described: a gift. People in the church who attempt to merit God’s favor apart from the works of Jesus are like gnat strainers. They do everything they can to ensure that they dot every i and cross every t (well, those things that they think are necessary) to merit salvation.

And yet, they gulp down unclean camels. By doing this, they reject what God in Christ has done. Only He has perfectly met the demands of the law. Therefore, no matter how many gnats one strains, the camels remain to be gulped down. There is no way around this.

This is what Israel’s leaders were doing. They were meeting the demands they thought they could easily get away with, but they ignored the more burdensome demands that were required to be met.

The greatest, and only, requirement for salvation is faith in what God has done through Christ. Don’t be a gnat-strainer who misses out by swallowing the camels of law observance! Come to Christ and be saved.

Lord God, thank You for Christ’s perfection. We accept it by faith. Amen.

Sunday, 18 October 2026

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.  Matthew 23:23

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! Because you tithe the mint, and the dill, and the cummin, and you left the ‘weightier, the law’: the judgment, and the mercy, and the faith. These, also, it necessitated to do – those, not leave!” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus finished up His fourth woe to the scribes and Pharisees. He now moves right to the fifth, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites!” He uses the same opening formula as the first two woes, noting their hypocrisy. He then begins to define it, saying, “Because you tithe.”

Here is a new word, apodekatoo, to give, pay, or take a tithe. It is derived from apo, away or from, and dekatoo, a tithe. The tithe was a mandate of the law of Moses. Like taxes today, tithes were mandated as a part of the society to keep various aspects of the society functioning and to keep the needy from abject poverty.

Greater levies were imposed on the people by kings or by foreign powers, but the tithe of Israel was mandated in the law with specific targeted purposes that were explicitly stated. Jesus singles out certain tithes made by these men, saying, “the mint, and the dill, and the cummin.”

Three new words are seen here. The first is héduosmon, mint. It is derived from hédeós, sweetly, and osmé, fragrance. The two together form a word picture describing mint. The next is anéthon, dill or anise, closely related botanicals. The word is found only here in the Bible.

Next is kuminon, cummin. It is etymologically equivalent to kammon, cummin, found three times in Isaiah 28. The Greek word is found only here in the New Testament. These men did the minimum required by the law, as it says in Leviticus 27:30, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.”

They were doing what was mandatory and which could be verified by set measurement. But Jesus continues, “and you left the ‘weightier, the law’.”

Another new word is seen: the adjective barus, weighty. Figuratively, it signifies being burdensome or grave. It is derived from the noun baros, weight. There is the sense of the inability to move freely. Jesus’ point is that they did the easy stuff, but neglected that which required true effort.

In other words, the tithe was something that was set and important, but it did not carry the same weight as other precepts mandated in the law. Jesus next notes what those weightier matters are, saying, “the judgment, and the mercy, and the faith.” The words appear to be a loose citation of Micah 6:8 –

“He caused to declare to you, man, what ‘good’.
And what Yehovah ‘inquiring’ from you?
That if doing verdict, and cherishing kindness, and causing to efface,
To walk with your God.” Micah 6:8 (CG)

The final Greek word Jesus uses, pistin, signifies faith or faithfulness based on the context. If Jesus is referring to Micah, faith matches the “causing to efface.” One will only purposefully humble himself before God if he has faith that God cares about those things. Faith looks upward to God as the object of trust. Faithfulness looks outward through actions, obedience, and duty.

Both are understandable, but in Micah, the person being spoken to is being instructed on faith first and foremost. With this stated, Jesus finishes with, “These, also, it necessitated to do – those, not leave!”

The meaning is that the weightier matters (these) were expected, even if they were burdensome. The other matters (those) were always expected to be accomplished as well, even if they were lesser mandates.

Life application: Jesus informed these leaders of Israel that tithing was expected. Does this mean that tithing is required even now? No. The law is fulfilled. Tithing was mandated under the law. The instance of Abraham giving a tenth to Melchizedek is descriptive. It prescribes nothing. Jacob’s promise to give a tenth to the Lord is descriptive. It prescribes nothing.

These cannot be used as examples that must be followed (the made-up and unsupportable doctrine called “the law of first-mention”). Giving within the church is defined by Paul’s words found in 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7 –

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Tithing is a mandate, not a cheerful decision. To understand the full scope of the tithes of Israel and how the mandate is inappropriately abused within the church, refer to the Superior Word sermons on the subject, the main one of which is found in Deuteronomy 14:22-29, entitled The Tithes of Israel.

Lord God, may we always walk humbly with You, glorifying You with our lives, actions, and interactions. Remind us of Your presence so that You are always at the forefront of our thoughts. Be glorified in and through us always. Amen.