I’m in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and they are going through the minor prophets. It’s amazing how consistent the message is even in the OT. God is saying that their rule following and sacrifices mean nothing because of the way they are treating others. Israel is ignoring the poor, windows, helpless, and so on, and often times financially taking advantage of them. He’s not saying morality and sacrifice is bad, but it’s just empty without a heart change. 

It’s amazing that the Pharisees missed this. They felt like they had to keep all the law, and then additional rules as hedge, and then enforce it on everyone else, since if others in Israel failed, God would punish them all as a whole. Of course, they didn’t even keep the law in Spirit (which is the hypocrisy Jesus often called out on murder, sex, etc) When it came to Jesus’s murder, they believed they were innocent since they didn’t carry it out, but without them putting it in motion and manipulating, it would have never happened. And from accounts in Acts, seems like most continued to self-justify and never repent. 

It feels like there is a a lot of this going on today, but that’s to write about later. Personally, while I don’t believe I take advantage of anyone of lesser means, I should up the amount I serve those in need. 

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”