The Heart of the Matter

Gospel Reflection for Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 - Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus isn’t mincing His words in today’s Gospel. He is denouncing the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees, using strong images and even stronger language.

And it has everything to do with us, in the modern world. Today He is getting at the heart of the matter — our hearts.

He cries out “Woe to you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites!”

The Scribes and Pharisees tithed mint, dill and cummin, cheap and insignificant spices, while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. It’s not that tithing isn’t important, but when small details overshadow the love of God and neighbor, priorities become distorted.

Jesus goes further “You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel”

Their energy was spent on minor scruples, while ignoring major sins.

And again Jesus calls out the Scribes’ and Pharisees’ focus on exterior purity with religious practice while neglecting their interior life, which instead is full of greed and self-indulgence.

It can be so easy for us to look outward: to point to our leaders in the Church, at bishops, priests and even the pope and think these words are meant only for them. The scandals and failures of others can quickly become our focus.

But Jesus’ words today call us first to self-examination.

Have I strained out gnats while swallowing camels in my own life? Have I kept my exterior pristine while my heart grows cold, distracted, or self-indulgent?

Have I forgotten that the Lord desires mercy, justice, and faithfulness more than outward show?

In today’s Gospel the invitation is sobering but also hopeful: to clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may also be pure. To allow Christ to reorder our hearts so that our actions flow from a heart in love with Him.

Jesus said:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin,
and have neglected the weightier things of the law:
judgment and mercy and fidelity.
But these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.
You cleanse the outside of cup and dish,
but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup,
so that the outside also may be clean.”