Tuesday, July 9: “Misrepresented Giving”

Matthew 23: 23: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weighter provisions of the law; justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.“

Jesus never condemned the scribes and Pharisees for closely following the law’s provision for tithing. In fact, He commended them for doing it. Yes, justice and mercy and faithfulness are weighter, but following those provisions will lead one to understand that the need of the personal tithe cannot be neglected, either. Actually, “This you should have done” seems rather clear.