Matthew 23:23
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former..."
Jesus reminds the crowd, and in particular the Pharisees, that following the part of the law which is easy for them (tithing) is not enough, and does not take the place of treating others with love and fairness and forgiveness. Justice is a tricky word, because we so often attach it completely to the legal system. But it applies to our own lives every day. When we treat people fairly, and do not show favoritism, we are practicing justice. And when we attempt to right a wrong, to allow more people to have access to what they are being denied, to level the playing field when we can, we are practicing justice. It is a challenge to bring this very complex concept to the everyday of my life.
Holy Lord, help me to make decisions which promote justice and fairness. Help me to see the opportunities I may have, to do this. Amen
Becky, transforming
Matthew 23:23
Jesus uses the Pharisees As an example for us. Whether it is the law of tithing or the law of justice and mercy, one is no more important than the other. One certainly does not replace the other. I always have tried to do my best with both my giving and my doing. It hasn’t always been easy to balance both, but trying to it’s important.
Prayer: gracious God, may I always follow your wishes in all I do. Amen
Monday February 13th, 2023
Matthew 23:23
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Perfection is a cold symptom of a heartless person‘s mindset just as the Pharisees possessed. They were great at making other feel as though they were not good enough. This is the opposite of grace and perhaps that is why Jesus so strongly opposed the pharisees attitude and behavior. God does not expect us to be perfect. It is precisely because we are not perfect that he sent Jesus to save us and gave t…
Matthew 23:23 Giving to the church, even lavish amounts is utterly without spiritual significance unless one’s commitment to God is demonstrated in the way one’s live is lived. Thinking of Friday’s verse, slapping a big check in the offering plate then going out into the world and showing unjust, unmerciful behavior is mocking God. The Christian life is a tall order, but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit we can carry it out.
Prayer - Gracious God, Your mercies are made new each morning. I pray that I reflect a measure of Your mercy and justice as I go about even the most mundane of tasks of my day. Amen
TAA