Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 23:23

23 Woe unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, for ye pay tithe of mint, and Annise 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.

We have much the same, Luk. 11.42. only there it is, Ye Tithe Mint, and Rue, and all manner of Herbs, and pass over Iudgment, and the Love of God. It is manifest by our Saviours words in the latter part of the Verse: These ought you to have done; that he doth not blame the Pharisees exactness in Tithing Mint, Annise, Rue, Cummin, and all manner of Herbs. But their neglecting the Weightier matters of the Law▪ Faith and Love to God, Iudgment and Mercy. The Levites having no Inheritance, God ordained Tithes for their Maintenance; of which also the poor were to have a share, Lev. 27.30. Num. 18.23. The Pharisee boa[illegible: 1 letter]ted, Luk. 18.12. That he paid Tithe of all he possest; Christ here acknowledgeth, that the Pharisees were exact in their paying Tithes. But he blames them for their Partiality, neglecting the weightier things of the Law. 2. For their Hypocrisie, they were only exact in these little things, that they might be taken notice of, as Scrupulous observers of the Divine Law; while they omitted those things, which were of much more weight, which he reckoneth up: Faith by which some understand Faith in God, but the most, Faithfulness, and sincere and honest dealings with Men, in opposition to Fraud, and Cheating, and Circumventions, Iudgment, by which he means Iustice, giving to every one what is their own: Mercy, by which he meaneth a Charitable behaviour, in helping such as are miserable, and afflicted. Love to God, which is the true Root, out of which all things should flow, and is indeed comprehensive of all our Duty toward God, as well as the Root of all our Good Works towards Men.

Marginal references: Gr. [non-Latin text not transcribed]. Dill.; 1 Sam. 15.22. Hos. 6.6. Mic. 6.8. Chap. 9.13. & 12.7.