October 29, 2025 

Matthew 23:23–24 – Jesus rebukes the religious leaders for tithing carefully while neglecting the more important matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

Devotional: Jesus never criticized the Pharisees for caring about the law; He criticized them for missing its heart. They were meticulous about details—counting out even the smallest herbs to make sure their tithes were exact—but blind to the love that weighs more: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. In other words, they measured holiness in teaspoons but ignored the gallons of grace spilling all around them.

It’s tempting to shake our heads at them, but if we’re honest, we sometimes live the same way. We can become so focused on doing church “right”—getting the order of worship perfect, balancing the budget, keeping everything running smoothly—that we forget why we do any of it. Jesus wasn’t condemning structure or obedience; He was reminding us that love must remain the center. Without it, faith becomes performance, and ministry becomes noise.

Justice, mercy, and faithfulness are not optional upgrades to discipleship—they’re its foundation. Justice means standing for what is right even when it costs us. Mercy means extending grace when it’s least deserved. Faithfulness means staying steady in love when everything in us wants to quit. These are the things that reveal the character of God to a world starved for integrity and compassion.

When Jesus said, “You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel,” He was calling out religion that looks impressive but forgets compassion. The image is absurd on purpose—it’s meant to make us laugh, then think. How often do we polish the outside of our faith while neglecting the weightier matters of the heart?

The invitation Jesus gives is not to abandon order but to infuse it with love. When we practice justice, mercy, and faithfulness, the rest of the law finds its proper place—not as a burden but as an expression of joy. The gospel doesn’t shrink holiness; it deepens it. The more we love, the more rightly we live.

So today, ask yourself: am I focusing on what makes me look holy, or on the love that makes me whole?

Action: Do one small act of mercy or justice today—a phone call, a meal, a prayer for someone in need—and let love, not obligation, be your motivation.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to lose sight of what matters most. Keep my heart tender toward mercy, my spirit grounded in faithfulness, and my hands ready for justice. Teach me to live by the weightier matters of Your kingdom—love, grace, and truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thought for the Day: The love of God is the weightiest matter of all.