Matthew 23:23 (CSB) — “Woe to you… You give a tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.”
We love religious tradition. We cherish our prayers. We relish our hymns. We revere our symbols and sacraments. And we’re devoted to our religious form. But Jesus wasn’t impressed with religious people who tithed out of their abundance while ignoring the brokenness around them. When the religious leaders of Jesus’ time tried to embroil him in their disputes, he cut through the chaos and went straight to the heart of God’s will. And it’s the will of God that I believe we’re neglecting today in the midst of all our religious tradition.
Imagine for a moment a beautiful church sitting at the top of a hill with a long and storied history. An anchor of its community. The church had remained from generation to generation. Its leadership is successful. Strong. Respected. They drive nice cars. They hold good jobs. They are doctors and businessmen. Pillars of their community. You enter the building and are appropriately greeted. You take your seat. The service moves at the right pace. The sermon was engaging. And the worship moving. Leadership presents their current mission to South America. You see pictures of all the children they’re feeding, the school they’re building, and the medical treatments they’re providing. Then you notice an old widow in the corner. After service you see that she’s politely acknowledged as she finds her way out of the church. Now imagine how you would feel if you found out that the widow lived by herself in a trailer with a collapsed roof. Winters were harsh and summers oppressive. She has requested help, but the leaders have neglected her. Suddenly everything that at first seemed commendable now feels like an indictment! Why? Because we know that what God desires most — and what he has always desired — is justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the weightier matters of the law. They are the fruit of knowing him.
The story I shared above is a true story I know first hand. We are so pleased with our religious traditions that we do not realize the condemnation we are incurring because of our neglect for justice, mercy, and faithfulness! We tithe. We go on “missioncations”. We preach. But the people, both in our pews and outside our doors, are suffering under heavy burdens while we congratulate ourselves on our pious accomplishments.
My message throughout this short series has been that our faith and practice must arise from the heart of God. Indeed, we shouldn’t have to choose between doctrine and mercy, but if our doctrine costs us our compassion, then it does not come from Jesus. Again, if our theology allows us to stay silent and comfortable while the innocent suffer, then it’s not sound. And again, if our faith keeps us polished but unmoved, exact but unloving, it has failed to reflect the heart of God. The point is simply that if we’re comfortable saying “God bless” to one another while leaving each other to drown under the heavy burdens of this life, then we have neglected the weightier matters that God cares about!
So maybe the real test of orthodoxy isn’t just the words we say – although what we say matters – but also the life produced by our faith? How we love matters as much as saying that we love. Sharing burdens matters as much as saying that we care about the burdened.
A Dedicated Faith 