Luke the beloved physician wrote how Jesus said, “Now do you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. You fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you”, and in chapter eleven and verse forty-two of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “woe unto you, Pharisees! For you tithe … and pass over judgment and the love of God” where we read:
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
The verse reads, “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God:” Luke began with the words, “but woe unto you” or “nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover alas as a word of warning to the Pharisees”, “Pharisees” which refers to “the religious sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”! “for you tithe” or “because, since and on account that you Pharisees exact, give and pay a tenth of” “mint” which means “a kind of small odoriferous herb with which the Jews used to scatter on the floors of their houses and synagogues” “and rue” or “a shrubby plant about two feet high which has medicinal value from its thick or fleshly leaves” “and all manner of herbs” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the kinds of vegetables”, “and pass over judgment” which means “and neglect, omit and avert sundering, trial, condemnation and punishment of right and wrong” “and the love of God” or “and the affection, good will, benevolence and unconditional love of the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Luke shared how Jesus indited and warned the “religious group” known as the “Pharisees” as He confirmed their “detailed tithing” outwardly, but they neglected the inward matters of “judgment” and “God's love”.
The verse goes on to say, “these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Luke continued with the words, “these ought you to have done” or “tithing of mint, rue and vegetables was needful for the Pharisees to have kept, performed, produced, carried out and executed”, “and not to leave” which means “and not to depart from, neglect or abandon” “the other undone” or “and not observe the judgment and love of God”. Luke shared how Jesus confirmed the Pharisee's “tithing” as a good thing to do, however, they were not to neglect the “judgment” and “love of God”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus recognized the outward religious act of “careful tithing” performed by the Pharisees. They were so meticulous in their “tithing” that they would count their “herbs” so as to give “one to God” and keep “nine” for themselves. Though Jesus acknowledged their idea of “tithing”, they abandoned the “greater inward” matters of the heart which included God's “judgment” and “love”. God knows the “heart” or “inward part” of every person, and because they needed a “Savior”, He sent His Son Jesus to “save” them from their “sins”. A person who is “religious” follows the “rules” outwardly so as to seek the approval of God and men, and those who recognize and believe in Jesus have a relationship with God that produces good works. In other words, the “heart” of a person who follows Jesus has aligned with God's way of “love” and avoided His “judgment” for religious works, but those who only “religiously” follow His rules may find themselves like these Pharisees whom Jesus indited and warned.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “woe unto you, Pharisees! For you love the uppermost seats … and greetings”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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