ken fong - more than writing checks - 100131
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Yes Yes && No NoYes Yes && No No
More Than Writing ChecksMore Than Writing Checks
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Matthew 23 2323"Woe to you, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You give a tenth of you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. your spices—mint, dill and cumin.
But you have neglected the more But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—important matters of the law—
justice, mercy and faithfulnessjustice, mercy and faithfulness. . You should have practiced the You should have practiced the
latter, without neglecting the latter, without neglecting the former. former.
2424You blind guides! You strain out You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”a gnat but swallow a camel.”
Matthew 23 2323"Woe to you, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You give a tenth of you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. your spices—mint, dill and cumin.
But you have neglected the more But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—important matters of the law—
justice, mercy and faithfulnessjustice, mercy and faithfulness. . You should have practiced the You should have practiced the
latter, without neglecting the latter, without neglecting the former. former.
2424You blind guides! You strain out You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”a gnat but swallow a camel.”
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Matthew 23 23-2423-24"You're "You're hopeless, you religion scholars and hopeless, you religion scholars and
Pharisees! Frauds! You keep Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, on every nickel and dime you get,
but on the meat of God's Law,but on the meat of God's Law, things like fairness and compassion things like fairness and compassion
and commitment—the absolute and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or basics!—you carelessly take it or
leave it.leave it. Careful bookkeeping is Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea required. Do you have any idea
how silly you look, writing a life how silly you look, writing a life story that's wrong from start to story that's wrong from start to
finish, nitpicking over commas and finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?semicolons?
Matthew 23 23-2423-24"You're "You're hopeless, you religion scholars and hopeless, you religion scholars and
Pharisees! Frauds! You keep Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, on every nickel and dime you get,
but on the meat of God's Law,but on the meat of God's Law, things like fairness and compassion things like fairness and compassion
and commitment—the absolute and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or basics!—you carelessly take it or
leave it.leave it. Careful bookkeeping is Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea required. Do you have any idea
how silly you look, writing a life how silly you look, writing a life story that's wrong from start to story that's wrong from start to
finish, nitpicking over commas and finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?semicolons?
Are we Are we
smarter smarter
than a 5th than a 5th
grader?grader?
JESUSJESUSWasn’t Against Wasn’t Against
the Lawthe Law
JESUSJESUSWasn’t Against Wasn’t Against
the Lawthe Law
Matt 5:19 19Anyone who breaks one of
the least of these commandments and teaches
others to do the same will be called least in the
kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and
teaches these commands will be called great in
the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 9:13 13But go and learn what this
means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have
not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Matt 5:19 19Anyone who breaks one of
the least of these commandments and teaches
others to do the same will be called least in the
kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and
teaches these commands will be called great in
the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 9:13 13But go and learn what this
means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have
not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
SeedsSeeds More thanMore than NeedsNeeds
SeedsSeeds More thanMore than NeedsNeeds
PHARISEES DEBATED WHETHER SCRIPTURE
REQUIRED THEM TO TITHE THEIR CUMIN SEEDS
WHAT ‘SEEDS’ DO WE FUSS ABOUT?
PHARISEES DEBATED WHETHER SCRIPTURE
REQUIRED THEM TO TITHE THEIR CUMIN SEEDS
WHAT ‘SEEDS’ DO WE FUSS ABOUT?
What’s Most Important to GodWhat’s Most Important to God
Deuteronomy 10 12-13 So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you?
Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for
you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the
commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a
good life.
Micah 6 8But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.
Pharisees (then and now) wouldn’t disagree with this. Not how they lived.
Deuteronomy 10 12-13 So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you?
Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for
you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the
commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a
good life.
Micah 6 8But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.
Pharisees (then and now) wouldn’t disagree with this. Not how they lived.
Gnats, Gnats, Commas, Commas, & Trees& Trees
Gnats, Gnats, Commas, Commas, & Trees& Trees
How could the Pharisees miss what matters most to God?
Why do many of us make the same mistake?
God is good and loving; God delights in us in Christ
How could the Pharisees miss what matters most to God?
Why do many of us make the same mistake?
God is good and loving; God delights in us in Christ