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. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Matthew 23:23-25
This is religion. Traditions and form over the Spirit of God in the heart. Following the traditions to the smallest degree (and then pointing to everyone else to show them how righteous you are) but never listening to the Spirit of God about the heart of the matter. Justice = krisis (Greek) / the truth of the situation decidedly made correctly. Mercy = eleos (Greek) / pity, mercy, compassion (ie. Loyalty to God’s covenant) is an example of God’s clemency. Faithfulness = pistis (Greek) the divinely implanted gift from God which is a guarantee and God’s warranty that what He says will come to pass. These things are the weightier things of life rather than the minutia of man-made restrictions on people’s lives.
Then comes the ‘hammer’ of Jesus’ next statement of ‘straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel’. This is the entire summary of the life of a zealously religious person who is more concerned about how they look before others rather than how God actually sees them. These religious types are only looking to been ‘seen’ by other religious types (usually leaders) who will promote them into greater positions. So many are blind to God’s heart and are zealous only to religious form so as to please the current religious institutional system. What is the actual size difference between a gnat and a camel? It’s an absurdly large difference. Actually this is the verse so many preach today that they say show Jesus’ acceptance of the ‘tithe’, which only proves that they miss the entire point Jesus was trying to make. This is how literally the Pharisees interpreted the scriptures – only to their own benefit. The new testament teaching of how to handle money by Jesus is a radical upgrade from the old testament practices concerning ‘giving’ of money. Jesus’ method ALWAYS has to do with the heart of the individual and their obedience to the prompting and instructions by the Holy Spirit. It’s no longer about the 10% – it’s about the 100%. (Jesus bought you with a price – He now OWNS all you have) The only eternal reward for giving now is when you listen to His Voice and do as He instructs you to do… personally (by the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit within you).
The message here by Jesus is the difference between religion and a relationship with God. Obviously, the difference is ludicrous in the eyes of God. We can’t fool or deceive God. Actions or words spawning from pride, fear, or lust (discontentedness with ungratefulness) will never be accepted by God.
Are you more concerned about how you look and or are perceived by the other Church going people and community spiritual leaders – than what God actually sees in you? If yes… (by His judgement not yours), then you are most likely filled with greed and self-indulgence… just like the Pharisees. Looking for the approval of others instead of God’s… is a deadly slope.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
What does God see when He looks at you?
Have you ever asked the Holy Spirit that question and really wanted His answer?
Are you able to hear and quickly respond to God’s correction to you? Even in the smallest of things? Don’t dismiss those convicting areas He points out to you.
Why do I write these things? Because I am His ‘first target’ for change. He wants me to ‘deal’ with certain ‘issues’ in my own life. Can I give generously (almost hilariously) when He says to me … “GIVE!”? Am I asking Him what He wants me to do, rather than thinking or being concerned what others might think?
The Truth cuts both ways.