Matthew 23:23

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Cross-reference

In Matthew 23:4, Jesus accuses Pharisees of burdening others with heavy loads — another aspect of the hypocrisy criticized here.

Matthew 5:20 says righteousness must exceed the Pharisees'—their meticulous tithing without justice falls short, illustrating the same critique.

Matthew 5:19 warns against setting aside even the least commands—reinforcing Jesus' point that tithing should not be neglected while pursuing justice.

In Matthew 15:7, Jesus quotes Isaiah about honoring God with lips while hearts are far away — the same hypocrisy condemned here.

In Matthew 5:24, Jesus prioritizes reconciliation before offering, mirroring the call to prioritize justice over tithing.

Matthew 9:13 quotes 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' reinforcing the priority of mercy over ritual — the very weightier matter Jesus says they neglected.

Matthew 12:7 repeats the same Hosea quote about mercy, showing Jesus consistently upholds mercy as greater than ceremonial observance.

Matthew 22:37-40 summarizes the law as love for God and neighbor — which aligns with the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness here.

In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel declares obedience better than sacrifice—the same priority Jesus urges here: justice and mercy outweigh ritual tithing.

Luke 11:42 Parallel

Luke 11:42 records the same woe about tithing herbs while neglecting justice and love — a parallel account of the same teaching.

Micah 6:8 Parallel

Micah 6:8 summarizes God's requirement: act justly, love mercy, walk humbly—matching the three weightier matters Jesus names: justice, mercy, faithfulness.

Hosea 6:6 Allusion

Hosea 6:6 has God saying 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'—the exact principle Jesus uses to critique the Pharisees' misplaced priorities.

Jeremiah 22:16 ties defending the poor and needy to knowing God—the same justice and mercy Jesus says is more important than tithing spices.

Jeremiah 22:15 commends King Josiah for doing what is right and just—an example of the justice Jesus says the Pharisees neglect.

Proverbs 21:3 states that doing right and just is more acceptable than sacrifice—directly reinforcing Jesus' call to prioritize these weightier matters.

Zechariah 7:9 commands true justice and mercy—directly matches Jesus' 'weightier matters' of justice, mercy.

Isaiah 59:8 Allusion

Isaiah 59:8 describes paths without justice—underscores Jesus' concern for justice that Pharisees lack.

Isaiah 5:7 Parallel

Isaiah 5:7 shows God seeking justice and righteousness—echoes Jesus' call for justice and faithfulness.

Proverbs 3:3 urges binding love and faithfulness—the same virtues Jesus says Pharisees neglected.

Mark 7:2 Parallel

In Mark 7:2, Pharisees criticize disciples for eating with unwashed hands — external ritual over internal purity, similar to tithing without justice.

Luke 10:37 Parallel

In Luke 10:37, Jesus commands 'Go and do likewise' after the Good Samaritan story — embodying the mercy that Pharisees neglect.

Leviticus 27:30 Historical context

Leviticus 27:30 establishes the tithe law Jesus references—the OT basis for tithing spices.

Luke 18:12 Parallel

In Luke 18:12, the Pharisee's prayer boasts of tithing — illustrating the self-righteous tithing without justice that Jesus condemns.

John 18:28 Parallel

In John 18:28, the Pharisees' scruple about ritual defilement while condemning an innocent man exemplifies neglecting justice and mercy — the weightier matters Jesus condemns here.

In Galatians 6:13, Paul similarly condemns those who boast in external circumcision but fail to keep the law — matching Jesus' critique of tithing minutiae while ignoring core commandments.

Mark 2:24 Parallel

In Mark 2:24, Pharisees rebuke Jesus' disciples for Sabbath work — another example of focusing on minor rules while missing mercy.