The Weightier Matters

What are the weightier matters

What Jesus says is first:

• Love God, Love people

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” - Matt 22:36-40

• For eternal life, keep all the commandments (faith is counted as righteousness) and live selflessly

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” Looking at him, Jesus felt a Love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words [a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” They were even more astonished and said to Him, “[b]Then who can be saved?” Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” - Mark 10:17-27

• If he had to pick, what does Jesus say are the most important commandments?

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. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. - Matt 23:23-24

Breaking it down

• Justice
  • Greek: G2920 krisis (literally “for or against”, meaning a trial or judgement)
  • Hebrew: H4941 mishpat (judgement, first appears in Gen 18:19 - in order that they may do what is right and just; often used in conjunction with “statutes”, i.e. “keep my statutes and my judgements”)
• Mercy
  • Greek: G1656 eleos (compassion; kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them)
  • Hebrew: H571 emet = true, right, faithful(ly), assuredly, sure
  • Hebrew: H2617 chesed = mercy, kindness, lovingkindness, favour
  • Hebrew: H6664 tsedeq = justice, rightness, righteousness
• Faith
  • Greek: G4102 pistis (persuasion, credence, or moral conviction; abstractly: consistency in such a profession; that is, walking the walk)
  • Hebrew: H530 emunah = faithfulness, truth, office, stability, steadfast

Q&A

• How do we live out these traits?
• How have you done with these in the past? How about since becoming a Christian?
• How can we hold each other accountable in these areas?
• While Jesus does not disqualify other actions, why do you think these were put first?