Matthew 23:23-24 23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because 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. 24You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel.
Another fault of the scribes and Pharisees was that they got caught up in doing religion and not being. Tithing had been a practice of the people of Israel since at least the time of Abraham in Genesis 14:20. The law dictates that a tenth of one’s resources should be giving to God (Leviticus 27:30–33; Numbers 18:21, 24). The tithe was used to support the Levites and priests. Mint, dill, and cumin were herbs used as spices. These are small spices only used to flavor food. Jesus does not criticize them for tithing these in these small matters. Tithing should be the practice of God’s people in support of those who lead in spiritual matters.
The problem with the scribes and Pharisees is that they neglected the weightier matters that affected other people, especially those who were neglected or abused. Jesus chose three qualities that reflect God’s own character. Justice (krisin) is a legal term that describes making good judgments. It can be protective of those harmed or retributive to those who do wrong. The goal of justice is to keep order in society by protecting the innocent and correcting or punishing law breakers. Israel’s law code put everyone on the same level. Mercy (eleos) extends help to those in need who often do not deserve it, as God does to people. Faithfulness (pistin) is related to trust and being true to one’s commitment. All of these terms were essential qualities throughout the Old Testament (Proverbs 21:3, Micah 6:8, and Habakkuk 2:4). They impact one’s relationship with God and others and are reflections of the two greatest commandments Jesus gave in 22:37-40.
The problem with these Jews was not so much what they were doing, since tithing was an essential spiritual discipline, but what they were neglecting. They had become blind to what they needed to do because they had made their religion all about them and looking good before others. Jesus highlights their hypocrisy with the image of a gnat and camel in verse 24. The gnat is one of the smallest insects and the camel was the largest animal in that area. These Jews were so concerned about the minutia that they missed the most important.
Doing religious duties, such as tithing, is important for God’s people because it shows commitment and honor to God. It is relatively easy to drop money in an offering box and then go in life. It is much more difficult to love one’s neighbor in tangible ways by extending justice, mercy, and faithfulness. It costs setting aside pride and self-protection to step out and live in God’s character. The only way this is possible is through cross-style submission.
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