Matthew 23:24

MATTHEW—NOTE ON Matthew 23:24 straining out a gnat. The rabbis strained wine to remove any small, unclean insects (Leviticus 11:23, Leviticus 11:41) that could contaminate it. swallowing a camel. The camel was the largest land animal in Palestine (see Matthew 19:24). It was unclean (Leviticus 11:4). Jesus is overstating to make a point. The Pharisees had become lost in the details, while neglecting the law’s major purposes.