You might find this short story intriguing, if you should find the time to hear it to the end. Once upon a time, Jesus faced a certain sect of meticulous fanatics that made a show of their piety, but with hearts out of proper place; fanatics who had mixed up the order of priority in their service to God and to humanity; Pharisees whose right acts were being soiled by a wrong heart. There were two general items on the discussion list with those fanatics: matters of righteousness and a matter of religious obligation; or personal acts of character and general acts of religious devotion; or inner integrity and outward show.
This was how Jesus responded to them and to the two items on the ‘list’: “What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things” (Luke 11:42, New Living Translation). The Contemporary English Version puts it a little more forcefully: “You Pharisees are in for trouble! You give God a tenth of the spices from your gardens, such as mint and rue. But you cheat people, and you don’t love God. You should be fair and kind to others and still give a tenth to God.” In other words, Jesus condemned the hypocrisy of those Pharisees – not the practice of any of the two things under focus. “You should…” He said, which did not sound like an advice or a suggestion that they could choose to obey nor not.
In the proper order of spiritual priorities, justice and love for God should have come before tithing, or righteousness and holiness before religion. One set was more important than the other, but both were important, according to Jesus in that New Testament passage. The fact that one was “more important” did not mean that “the other,” as some Bible translations put it, was NOT important. In other words, the superior value of one did not eliminate the lesser from the list of “important” things to do.
Despicable as the showiness of the Pharisees was, the Master did not abolish any of the two items on the list; He only put them in their proper order. He did not cancel any of them; He was only worried that a certain sect of flamboyant fanatics had mixed up their proper places, which is the sad case where religion has replaced righteousness, where external show of piety is exalted above inner sanctity, where rituals get elevated above righteousness, where impressing humans takes precedence over obeying God. Does that describe any congregation you know?
Of course, Jesus couldn’t be wrong!
The Church, from the Pulpit to the Pew, is numbered with many who would rather please men than please God. Consequently, aligning with the order and emphasis of Divine prescriptions is never their pursuits. For them it is okay as long as it is convenient and pleasing to men, in exchange for their loyalty and affirmation. Issues of righteousness, holiness and consecration are hardly emphasized, and the few who do are labeled fanatics, extremists and enemies of grace. There in need for the Church to begin to prioritize the things Jesus prioritized.
May the Lord continue to strengthen The Preacher with all he needs to touch the World for God, with his voice and pen. In Jesus Name.🙏
This is gracious and an eye opener to the truth and reality of what God wants from us. Once this order is distorted it makes our worship of no value to God.
A correct relationship with God before our personal sacrifices makes fellowship acceptable else we have to drop our gifts on the altar and go to look for our brothers for reconciliation.
I think if the minister does not see it this way, his congregation is set up on the wrong pathway to go.
May the LORD God Almighty show the Church mercy.
Thank you Sir
Vain glory or self glorification is so much entrenched in our worship centres.
May GOD help us to be true worshipers indeed in JESUS mighty name.
I’m grateful for this deep insight.
Great grace to The Preacher Ministry.
Thank you so much sir! You explained it all.
MAY THE LORD DELIVER HIS BODY, THE Church from the spirit of religion and from every other spirit NOT OF HIM in JESUS Christ I pray Hallelujah AMEN.