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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.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

- Matthew 23:23-28








  • Discretional - Of sound judgement; being tactful, careful, prudent

    • The seventh and final error to consider regarding God's law is legalism. Legalism is a belief in man-made laws, interpretations, and customs in addition to God's law. At the time of Christ, the Pharisees' religion was full of legalism. They added rules and regulations by the hundreds to God's law.

    When the spirit of legalism enters into one's religion and view of God's law, the fruits indicated in the following chart will be observed.

    THE FRUITS OF LEGALISM
    Fruit
    Biblical Example

    1. Outward matters will tend to become more emphasized than inward matters

    And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath Day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath Day.

    - Luke 13:14

    2. The technicalities of the law will tend to become more important than the spirit of the law

    And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first, that He went through the corn fields; and His disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

    And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath Days?

    - Luke 6:1-2

    3. Human traditions and teachings tend to replace God's laws and principles

    Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

    - Mark 7:7

    4. A harsh, judgmental spirit will tend to predominate over a loving, discretional spirit

    And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath Day.

    - John 5:16


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