weightier matters

Matthew 23:13-26


"You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness."
(Matthew 23:23)

We look at half of Jesus' "woes" to the scribes and Pharisees today. I simply want to comment on this line (above) regarding what Jesus says are the weightier matters of the law. While tithing is important (that is, Jesus says it should not be neglected either), Jesus calls attention to these weightier, heavier, matters of the law.

Justice - literally "judgment" or "decision" and meaning here something like righteous judgment, decisions made (personally and in the church or community) on the basis of all the law and the prophets, on the basis of what God has said - in particular the prophetic call for justice is most often with regard to the poor and the powerless being treated justly, or that judgments be made without partiality for those without clout or resources.
Mercy - "to show kindness and concern for someone in need" and kindness and concern is shown through practical help. It includes helping people out of their misery or need. Indeed, "Blessed are the merciful..." (5:7; cf. 9:13; 12:7)
Faithfulness - this is obviously related to "faith," but also to covenant loyalty. It relates to God, but also to people.

Jesus said back in the Sermon on the Mount that "whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (5:19). We have also recently heard him say that the "great and first commandment" is "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" and the second like it is, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (22:37-39).

These certainly are such weighty matters: loving God and loving neighbor are all about justice, mercy and faithfulness.

God is just and merciful and faithful, and his steadfast love endures forever. And he does not neglect the least. May he give us grace to love and honor him by imitating him, and by working out what he is working within us.

All his ways are justice... (Deut 32:4)
Lord, have mercy on us. (Mt 20:30)
Great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:23)