The Most Important Parts of the Law of Moses
Religious Leaders omitted weightier matters...
Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that they omitted the most important parts
of the Law of Moses, including judgment, mercy and faith.1 To observe these
requirements of the law, the priests sometimes had to set aside the less important parts,
such as not working on the Sabbath and forbidding others to eat bread offered in the
temple.2 Jesus also told the religious leaders that had they understood God’s will
regarding mercy, they would never have used the law to condemn those who are
guiltless in his eyes.2
To live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, 3 therefore, we
must understand the intent of the law in order to be just, compassionate, and merciful.4
Had the religious leaders of Israel known this, they would not have collected tithes and
offerings from the poor, condemned people for immorality, refused to help others on
their day of rest, discriminated based on gender, race, and nationality, or shunned the
blind, the maimed and other unfortunate people whom they judged to be sinners.5
The Apostle Paul dealt with churches divided over Jewish religious laws, such
as whether to eat food offered to idols, drink wine, or be circumcised. He advised that
it did not matter whether Christians did, or did not, do these things.6 What was
important, he wrote, is that they not judge one another over these matters, which leads
to strife and division.7 Most importantly, they should not allow anything that becomes
a stumbling block to those weak in faith.8 In the letters John sent to the seven churches
of Revelation, Christ admonished pastors that their works were not complete
unless they kept Jews out of their congregations who were preying on the weak. Paul,
on the other hand, believed it was important for the strong in faith, such as
missionaries, to observe whatever rituals are customary among people in order not to
offend them.9
References
1 Mt 23:23
2 Mt 12:1-8
3 Mt 4:4
4 Mic 6:6-8; Jas 1:27, i.e., demonstrate compassion toward those least fortunate rather
than favor the rich and burden the poor.
5 Mt 12:1-8
6 1Cor 7:18-20
7 1Cor 8:9-1; 10:25-33
8 Rom Chapter 14
9 1Cor 9:19-23
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