Externalism and the weightier matters

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. – Matthew 23.23

The scribes and Pharisees were the best at doing all of the religious stuff right. They knew all about the right tithes to pay and how to pay them. They had all the rituals down. They were the most religious of the religious. They knew all about the fine points and paid close attention to them.

All that was well and good, Jesus even told them to keep it up. But they forgot what Jesus called the ‘weightier matters of the law.’ While knowing and keeping the finer parts of tithing they had forgotten about justice and mercy and faith. One commentator uses the term ‘externalists’ to describe this kind of person. I think we all probably know something about externalism in our walk with the Lord.

This of course reminds us of the classic lines from Micah – ‘He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?’

Justice is the ability to judge wisely and make the right decisions. Mercy is the willingness to show compassion. Faith, here in the context of fidelity, goes hand in hand with humility. It only comes when we are humble enough to be faithful no matter what our circumstances and situations tell us.

Externalism is tempting. It is easy to do things like tithing without changing our character. When we are doing we can rationalise judging others for not doing. Shaping character is harder. It requires a real heart change instead of just doing.

Do the right externals, but let’s not forget the weightier matters. Remember the words of Micah. What does the Lord require of us but to do justly, love mercy, and if I may parrowphrase, walk in faithful humility before our God?