Slaves to Religious Formality: 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.” Luke 11:42
At first glance, the tithing of the Pharisees looked commendable. They were tithing right down to the most basic garden plants of mint, rue and garden herbs. It looked and even smelled good. But Mathew 23:23 tells a very different story.
They were good at outward tithing the small provisions of the Law, but they were neglecting the big provisions of the Law like showing justice, mercy, love and faithfulness. They were great with plants but terrible with people.
They were so absorbed with the small details of the Law they missed the call to love others as themselves. Their legalism made them blind to justice and mercy.
They were eager to apply an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but did not value people. They would quickly prosecute a thief or exploit an alien, but failed to recognize that they were hungry, thirsty, poor and destitute. They ignored mercy and compassion.
Part of tithing and giving to God is caring for orphans, widows, the poor and oppressed. The Pharisees were out of touch with the heart of God. They had become blind slaves to religious formality.
It can happen to us so quickly. Religious legalism can obscured the heard and compassion of God. It can blind us to the needs around us. It can make us self focused rather than truly seeing and serving those around us.
This is what made Jesus so radically different from the scribes and Pharisees. He focused on ministering to people.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
““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.” Luke 11:42
At first glance, the tithing of the Pharisees looked commendable. They were tithing right down to the most basic garden plants of mint, rue and garden herbs. It looked and even smelled good. But Mathew 23:23 tells a very different story.
They were good at outward tithing the small provisions of the Law, but they were neglecting the big provisions of the Law like showing justice, mercy, love and faithfulness. They were great with plants but terrible with people.
They were so absorbed with the small details of the Law they missed the call to love others as themselves. Their legalism made them blind to justice and mercy.
They were eager to apply an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, but did not value people. They would quickly prosecute a thief or exploit an alien, but failed to recognize that they were hungry, thirsty, poor and destitute. They ignored mercy and compassion.
Part of tithing and giving to God is caring for orphans, widows, the poor and oppressed. The Pharisees were out of touch with the heart of God. They had become blind slaves to religious formality.
It can happen to us so quickly. Religious legalism can obscured the heard and compassion of God. It can blind us to the needs around us. It can make us self focused rather than truly seeing and serving those around us.
This is what made Jesus so radically different from the scribes and Pharisees. He focused on ministering to people.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
