THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS THAT JESUS MENTIONED
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The Weightier Matters
Matthew 23:23
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
Luke 11:42
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
a) These verses are centered around something that Jesus said to the religious leaders of his community.
2. The Matters That Jesus Mentioned
a) Jesus referred firstly to a command in the law of Moses to tithe the land, and secondly to a command to practice justice. Jesus regarded both as important, but not equally so. He regarded things like justice as being "weightier" than things like tithing garden herbs.
i) The matter of tithing
@1. The law of Moses required a tithe. This was a tenth part of all produce, and was to be given to the lord as an offering. "And all the tithe of the land whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree... it is the Lord’s." (Leviticus 27:30).
@2. The Pharisees applied this law scrupulously, not only out in the wheat fields and vineyards, but even down to the little herbs at the kitchen door.
ii) The weightier matters
@1. The law of Moses also required that each person be fair, loving, and trustworthy toward his neighbor, treating him as an equal. "You shall do no injustice... but in righteousness you shall judge... you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:15,18).
@2. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that they were neglecting these "weightier matters". Yet those things they neglected were the very essence of God's message to their father Abraham (Genesis 18:18-19). On this hung all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:35-40). The Pharisees were practicing injustice. For example. they were, guilty of "devouring widows' houses" (Matthew 23:14).
The End ...
1. The Weightier MattersMatthew 23:23
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
Luke 11:42
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
a) These verses are centered around something that Jesus said to the religious leaders of his community.
2. The Matters That Jesus Mentioned
a) Jesus referred firstly to a command in the law of Moses to tithe the land, and secondly to a command to practice justice. Jesus regarded both as important, but not equally so. He regarded things like justice as being "weightier" than things like tithing garden herbs.
i) The matter of tithing
@1. The law of Moses required a tithe. This was a tenth part of all produce, and was to be given to the lord as an offering. "And all the tithe of the land whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree... it is the Lord’s." (Leviticus 27:30).
@2. The Pharisees applied this law scrupulously, not only out in the wheat fields and vineyards, but even down to the little herbs at the kitchen door.
ii) The weightier matters
@1. The law of Moses also required that each person be fair, loving, and trustworthy toward his neighbor, treating him as an equal. "You shall do no injustice... but in righteousness you shall judge... you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:15,18).
@2. Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that they were neglecting these "weightier matters". Yet those things they neglected were the very essence of God's message to their father Abraham (Genesis 18:18-19). On this hung all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:35-40). The Pharisees were practicing injustice. For example. they were, guilty of "devouring widows' houses" (Matthew 23:14).
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