The Weightier Matter of the Law...What does it mean? Why is it Weightier?

There is a portion of scripture in Matthew 23:23 that resides in the shadows of one of the most emphasized works in the local Church. Although it is less spoken of and less often preached, it speaks volumes to all whom God has allowed to see and it becomes a true blessing to all whom God has blessed to understand.

Matthew 23:23. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

We all know one the most emphasized works in the local Church that is listed in the above passage (tithing); however, do we know “the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith”? Just pause for a second and ask yourself “What is the weightier matters of the law….what is ……judgment, mercy, and faith”? Before you disregard this matter, consider that God in the flesh stated that judgment, mercy, and faith are weightier even to the works of tithing.

Judgment, mercy and faith are linked inseparable in a way that defines our only means of salvation; in judgment, mercy and faith resides the whole of our salvation; in judgment, mercy and faith resides the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit; in this we have Christ who provides MERCY. Christ spoke often of the importance of understanding mercy and encourages all to understand the meaning of mercy over works:

Matthew 9:13. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 12:7. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

What is Judgment, Mercy and Faith and why is it important?

Judgment:

God is a just God in that all matters of sin must meet its just reward, which is death. God being a just God must apply the proper Judgment to all who sin. There is no exception to this rule. God cannot clear the guilty:

Exodus 34:7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Mercy:

God punishment of all sin is death. However, God through Mercy provided a Savior to be KILLED for the sins of His Elect. His Son, a person of God, assumes the sin of His Elect and assumes the punishment for their sins. God could only accept a sinless sacrifice as recompense for sinners and such could only be God himself. Thus, it was only by God’s MERCY that HE offered up Himself to meet the Judgment He requires for sin. God’s Mercy through Christ allows God to not violate His Justice while saving Hell deserving sinners. This is why God saves man by Mercy and never by man’s sacrifice (works / efforts).

Titus 3:5-7. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Faith:

Mercy, which provides the perfect offering for sin, satisfies the Judgment imposed by a Just God. God gives this Mercy to sinful man by and through Faith in Christ Jesus. Faith here is also a free gift, a gift of grace from God given to man verified by a new Spirit within man that now seeks the things of God. True Faith through grace (free gift) will now produce good works not to obtain salvation but the results thereof:

Ephesians 2:8-10. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Job asked this question:

Job 25:4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

Christ gave the answer to His Disciples who asked a similar question:

Matthew 19:26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

It is by MERCY that satisfies God’s Judgment against man and through FAITH in Christ who provides the perfect work, which Saves the sinner.

So…Where do I (we) start and what do I (we) do?

As for me, I will start here: “Lord Have Mercy on ME!!!!”. If such is God’s Will it is not I who made that start it is God who called me for salvation is the Sovereign (100%) work of God and I wish only to be a recipient of His Grace.

Good Day and God Bless
 
Good thought provoking post illinijag.

There are many mercy practicing Christians out there, but probably no where near enough. Maybe not enough to make a noticeable difference, but The Lord notices,

Actually, the passage you cited first, Matt 23:23 holds special significance for me. While just an enquirer and reading through Matthew's gospel one night, the words were altered slightly....instead of reading 'scribes and pharisees' there was my name instead.......that really gave me a jolt.
blessings,
calvin
 
Good thought provoking post illinijag.

There are many mercy practicing Christians out there, but probably no where near enough. Maybe not enough to make a noticeable difference, but The Lord notices,

Actually, the passage you cited first, Matt 23:23 holds special significance for me. While just an enquirer and reading through Matthew's gospel one night, the words were altered slightly....instead of reading 'scribes and pharisees' there was my name instead.......that really gave me a jolt.
blessings,
calvin

As we grow in Grace, we grow in the knowledge of who we truly are relative to Whom God is. Then, we will hear words in scripture spoken through us and not just from the pen of the writer. These are some examples of where I hear myself speaking though God’s word:

1 Timothy 1:15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Romans 7:24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Here again, MERCY is the answer, extended through and by Christ.

Good Day and God Bless
 
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