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 records the same woe about tithing herbs while neglecting justice and love — a parallel account of the same teaching.
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 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 describes paths without justice—underscores Jesus' concern for justice that Pharisees lack.
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.
In Mark 7:2, Pharisees criticize disciples for eating with unwashed hands — external ritual over internal purity, similar to tithing without justice.
In Luke 10:37, Jesus commands 'Go and do likewise' after the Good Samaritan story — embodying the mercy that Pharisees neglect.
Leviticus 27:30 establishes the tithe law Jesus references—the OT basis for tithing spices.
In Luke 18:12, the Pharisee's prayer boasts of tithing — illustrating the self-righteous tithing without justice that Jesus condemns.
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.
In Mark 2:24, Pharisees rebuke Jesus' disciples for Sabbath work — another example of focusing on minor rules while missing mercy.