Do the things that are right and fair. The Lord loves that better than sacrifices.
Matthew 23:23 - Easy To Read Version “It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees. {\cf2\super [341]} You are hypocrites. {\cf2\super [342]} You give God one tenth of everything you own—even your mint, dill, and cummin. {\cf2\super [343]} But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—being fair, showing mercy, and being faithful. These are the things you should do. And you should also continue to do those other things. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law–right and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others. American Standard Version (1901) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. Common English Bible “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You give to God a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, but you forget about the more important matters of the Law: justice, peace, and faith. You ought to give a tenth but without forgetting about those more important matters. Catholic Public Domain Version Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you collect tithes on mint and dill and cumin, but you have abandoned the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, while not omitting the others. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you tithe mint, and anise, and cummin, and have left the weightier things of the law; judgment, and mercy, and faith. These things you ought to have done, and not to leave those undone. |
Do the things that are right and fair. The Lord loves that better than sacrifices.
A farmer prepares the ground, and then he plants the seed. A farmer plants different kinds of seeds different ways. A farmer scatters dill seeds. A farmer throws cummin seeds on the ground. And a farmer plants wheat in rows. A farmer plants barley in its special place, and he plants spelt {\cf2\super [263]} seeds at the edge of his field.
The Lord says: Do the things that are fair and right. Protect the person that has been robbed from the person that robbed him. Don’t hurt or do anything wrong to orphans {\cf2\super [171]} or widows. {\cf2\super [172]} Don’t kill innocent people.
Why? Because I want faithful love,\par not sacrifice,\par \{I want people\} to know God,\par not \{to bring\} burnt offerings.\par
“A tenth of all crops belong to the Lord. This means the crops from fields and the fruit from trees—a tenth belongs to the Lord.
Man, the Lord told you what goodness is.\par This is what the Lord wants from you:\par Be fair to other people.\par Love kindness and loyalty.\par Live humbly with your God.\par \{Don’t try to impress him with gifts.\}\par
The Scripture {\cf2\super [156]} says, ‘I don’t want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.’ {\cf2\super [157]} You don’t really know what those words mean. If you understood those words, then you would not judge those people that have done nothing wrong.
“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and Pharisees. {\cf2\super [333]} You are hypocrites. {\cf2\super [334]} You close the way for people to enter the kingdom of heaven. You yourselves don’t enter, and you stop the people that are trying to enter.
I will tell you something. Go and learn what it means: ‘I don’t want animal sacrifices; I want you to show kindness to people.’ {\cf2\super [106]} I did not come to invite good people. I came to invite sinners.”
But it will be bad for you Pharisees! You give God one-tenth of \{everything you own\}—even your mint, your rue, and every other little plant in your garden. But you forget to be fair to other people and to love God. These are the things you should do. And you should also continue to do those other things—\{like giving one-tenth\}.
\{I am good;\} I fast {\cf2\super [287]} twice a week, and I give one-tenth of everything I earn!’
But Samuel answered, “Which pleases the Lord more: burnt offerings and sacrifices [138] or obeying the Lord’s command? It is better to obey God than to offer sacrifices to him. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat from rams.