NOTES for Мф 23:23-26

Jesus continues to denounce the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, while expressing several principles that are very important for us all. First, within the Law (which is very extensive) there are weightier matters: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Second, the concept of impurity (so important in the Old Testament) should refer first of all to a person's inner world. And third—and this may be the hardest thing for us—it is not “either—or” but “both—and.” It is not “either the tithe or mercy,” nor “either outward purity or inward purity,” but “these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” After all, fifty per cent outward purity plus fifty per cent inward purity do not add up to one hundred per cent. How are we to manage this? Let us remember: “all things are possible with God.”