March 31st | “Look how hard I have it!” Fair is not always equal.

You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

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Matthew 23:3 – “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”

Matthew 23:4 – “They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”

Matthew 23:12 – “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

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

Matthew 23:28 – “In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

Jesus delivers one of His strongest rebukes in this chapter—not to the openly wicked, but to the religious leaders who looked the most righteous on the outside. The Pharisees were experts at rules, appearances, and burdening others, while their own hearts were far from God.

Key Warnings from Jesus:

- Do what they say, not what they do. Authority can still be respected even when the person in authority is hypocritical. Their teaching may be correct, but their example is not.

- Heavy loads on others. Some leaders create impossible standards and expectations for everyone else while excusing themselves from the same effort. This is spiritual abuse disguised as holiness.

- Exalting ourselves. Self-promotion and seeking applause always lead to humbling. God lifts up the humble.

- Majoring on minors. Straining out a gnat (the smallest unclean thing) while swallowing a camel (the largest) shows how easy it is to obsess over tiny external rules while ignoring massive heart issues like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

- Outward appearance vs. inward reality. Looking righteous is easy. Being righteous requires a clean heart.

Personal Reflection Questions:

- Where in my life am I doing “good” things primarily to be seen by others or to gain accolades and approval?

- In what areas am I seeking to exalt myself instead of humbly serving?

- When have I been forced to carry a heavy, unfair load placed on me by hypocrites or poor leaders? How did I respond?

- More importantly: Where have I placed heavy loads or unrealistic expectations on others that I myself am unwilling to carry?

Application for Today:

There will be times when we must obey instructions from people who don’t follow their own rules. If the instruction itself is right and fair (even if the person delivering it is flawed), we still have a responsibility to do what is right. We are not called to play the victim or broadcast our struggle for sympathy (“Look how hard I have it!”). Instead, we are called to carry the burden with humility.

Lori Beth and I often remind our kids: “The coach is always right—even when he or she is wrong.” The principle is bigger than sports. Sometimes we must respect the position or the rule while refusing to imitate the sin of the person in authority. We love the sinner, but we do not love or follow the sin.

Life is not always equal. Some burdens feel heavier than others. Some people seem to escape consequences while we carry more than our share. In those moments, we have a choice: complain and play the victim, or embrace the hidden opportunity.

As Napoleon Hill wrote in Think and Grow Rich: “Within every adversity, every failure, and every heartache is the seed of an equal or greater benefit.”

Temporary defeat, pain that feels unfair, and frustration that seems unequal are often opportunity wearing a disguise. Sustained success requires the lessons that only come through these hard seasons.

Righteousness is often forged in adversity when we choose to serve humbly instead of seeking recognition or revenge.

Prayer:

Lord, expose any hypocrisy in my own heart. Forgive me for the times I’ve done good things for applause rather than for Your glory. Help me to humble myself before You exalt me in Your timing. Give me wisdom to discern when to obey instructions from imperfect people, and strength to carry burdens without becoming bitter or playing the victim. Teach me to focus on the “camels” of justice, mercy, and a clean heart rather than straining out gnats. Let my life reflect true righteousness from the inside out. Amen.

Look for one opportunity today to serve humbly—especially in a situation where no one will see it or applaud it. Choose to carry your current load with gratitude for the lessons it contains, trusting that God is growing something greater in you through it.