THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS

Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of the house of God¹. He put the matters of the law into two categories².

■ WEIGHTY MATTER: Tithe.

■ WEIGHTIER MATTERS: Justice, mercy and faith.


Jesus talked about tithing in the context of justice, mercy and faith. He instructed us to do the weightier matters first and not leave the weighty matters undone.


The implication is that the punishment for disobeying the weightier matters is heavier.

If we just do the weighty matter and ignore the weightier ones, we are still in bondage.


He said, “WOE UNTO YOU, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you PAY TITHES of mint and anise and cummin, and have OMITTED the WEIGHTIER MATTERS of the law, JUSTICE, MERCY, and FAITH: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23).


Are there not people who deceive their neighbor, steal from them, oppress them, even kill; but they pay their tithes? Others refuse to forgive. They are filled with bitterness, hatred and vengeance; yet they pay their tithes. They obey the weighty matter for selfish reasons; but they are disobedient on the weightier ones. 


■ Abraham paid tithe to acknowledge that it was God who delivered him and his men in the battle with the five kings³. 


■ Under the law Israel paid tithe to acknowledge that God delivered them from bondage in Egypt and has brought them to a place of abundance⁴. 


■ Jesus Christ died on the Cross, and rose again to bring justice to us. He delivered us from the oppression of Satan⁵. 


The practice of justice, mercy and faith is the weightier way to thank God for delivering us by Christ. That is what gives value to paying our tithe. A child of God who understands justice, mercy and faith and practices the same will also joyfully pay his or her tithe to honor God. According to the words of Christ without practicing the former, doing the latter is hypocrisy. The blessing is in doing both. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.⁶

____________________

¹ Ephesians 2:19-22

² Matthew 23:23

³ Genesis 14:14-20

⁴ Numbers 26:1-13

⁵ Colossians 1:12-14

⁶ Matthew 5:7

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