In your reading today Jesus really cranks up the heat.
After entering Jerusalem at the beginning of the week he is to be crucified, Jesus has his authority challenged (21:23-27). After that incident, Jesus just absolutely nails the religious establishment (rest of 21, all of 22 & 23) for their hardened hearts. I want to check out with you today one of the things Jesus says was wrong with the religious establishment.
Look at Matthew 23:23-24.
Those who were part of the religious establishment were really good at tithing. They even tithed part of the mint leaves and other garden herbs (not required in the law). At the same time they had this strict observance of tithing, they neglected more important things like justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
WHY???
I think it comes down to the fact that it is easy to tithe. It's easy to give money. But it is difficult to have mercy on the poor. It's difficult to seek justice for the social outcasts. It is difficult to remain faithful to God on the inside.
Tithing is clean. Drop the money in the plate and you're done. Justice, mercy, and faithfulness are dirty. They will consume your life (not a bad thing).
Are you tithing while ignoring justice, mercy, and faithfulness??? Practice what's hard, not just what's easy.
May the mercy of God dwell richly in you today...
Pastor Mark
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