Weightier Matters

Mat 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.
Mat 23:24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

The problem with those who pride themselves in keeping laws, is they do not keep them perfectly. They have  a form of righteousness, but they really do not keep the laws in their hearts. 

The scribes and Pharisees ignored the more important things of the law: judgment; which is justice; knowing right from wrong and administering a just sentence on a wrong doer, according to God's laws.

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Mercy; kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

Faith; in the LORD and his promises to His people.

Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

There was a great deal of pride in these religious leaders thinking that they obeyed the laws and condemning others who they did not approve of, including Jesus. 

Have we in the church ignored the law? Have we given grace too big a definition making it an excuse to live casually? Have we too come up short regarding justice, mercy and truth? Revival starts in each believers heart. We are not to be rigid Pharisee law keepers, nor loose living sinners hiding under the name of grace. It is a spiritual walk we must take. We must stay close to Jesus, allowing his Spirit to search our hearts as we read the Bible. He is perfecting his bride. Do not think that you are yet perfect. Only in him are we made perfect. Our identity is hidden in Jesus Christ; he is seen and he is glorified.