Jesus Valued Justice, Mercy, and Faithful Giving

Jesus challenged the Pharisees who led the Judean faith in his day. They were right to “give a tenth,” he said, but that didn’t outweigh the “more important” pursuit of “justice, peace and faith.” As one scholar noted, Jesus spoke of a “hyperbolic Pharisee, even more scrupulous than normal’—someone so fixated on details that he missed the heart of the law (see Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Micah 6:8).” *

• Imagine the time and effort required to count out dill seeds or mint flakes—whether from a garden or market—to give exactly one-tenth as an offering! Jesus said that energy could be better used. How can you make your giving not a way to maintain a pious appearance, but a heartfelt gift to God? How can your giving truly bless others and build God’s kingdom?
• Some Pharisees tithed every mint leaf while practicing injustice, showing arrogance, and forgetting mercy. They kept trivial rules while missing what truly mattered. As one scholar put it, we need “a sense of proportion to save us from blurring religious observances with real devotion.” ** How can you ensure your giving flows from larger values like justice and mercy, rather than becoming a substitute for them?