(23) “WOE UNTO YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES! FOR YE PAY TITHE OF MINT AND ANISE AND CUMMIN, AND HAVE OMITTED THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW, JUDGMENT, MERCY, AND FAITH: THESE OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, AND NOT TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE.” The phrase, “Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” constitutes the fifth “Woe.” It pertains to the omission of things which really count, such as “Judgment, Mercy, and Faith.” The phrase, “For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin,” had to do with small plants used for seasoning, etc. One can easily observe the Pharisees being scrupulously intent on making certain that they gave the tenth plant to the Priests in the Temple, while the far weightier things were ignored. This is a perfect picture of those who are mired in religion, with all the keeping of its rules and regulations, but, in fact, do not know Christ. The phrase, “And have omitted the weightier matters of the Law, Judgment, Mercy, and Faith,” may have been taken from the words of the Prophet Micah. He said, “What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love Mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8). The idea is that the keeping of these outward observances are worthless when the moral precepts are neglected. 1. Judgment: This speaks of being fair and honest, and treating one’s neighbor right. It speaks of impartiality in our dealings with our fellowman. 2. Mercy: This simply speaks of love and kindness in one’s conduct. 3. Faith: Such means a total trust in God, without which it is not possible to please Him, and which should underlie and influence all moral action. The phrase, “These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone,” places the seal of approval by Christ on the paying of tithe, even in the smallest matters, such as the tiny plants, but with the reminder that the “weightier matters” must not be neglected. As “tithing” is here mentioned, it would be proper to procl
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:55:15 +0000
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