WHAT WE OUGHT BE DOING

Matthew 23:23

Pastor Rick Jackson

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.

This verse was recently highlighted in the devotional booklet, Days of Praise, along with others that teach us what we ought to be doing! Let us consider this verse.

1. WE OUGHT BE TITHING! [Mt. 23:23]

The tithe is the Lord's. The Bible says in Malachi to not give it to Him is robbing God. Someone may say but tithing was under the law, we are under grace. Tithing was before the law (Abraham), during the law, and after the law. But aren't we to give as God has prospered us--- well, what do you think tithing is if not percentage giving. The more God gives you the more you tithe. I knew a man who said he made too much money to tithe. He couldn't afford to tithe because he made too much money! A tithe, the starting place by the way- not the ending place, is 10 cents on the dollar whether you make $10, $100 or $1,000,000. Jesus didn't say they were wrong for titihing. He said, "Yes, you should have done that but you ought to have done these things too!"

2. WE OUGHT JUDGE RIGHTLY [John 7:24]

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. Judging by appearance is wrong and so is judging motives [Mt. 7:1] but we can judge actions and words by the Word of God! Is abortion wrong? What saith the Scripture? Is capital punishment wrong? What saith the Scripture?

3. WE OUGHT BE MERCIFUL [Matthew 5:7]

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Luke 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

4. WE OUGHT HAVE FAITH [Romans 10:17]

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

1) Saving faith - Eph. 2:8-9

2) Securing faith - Mk. 11:20-26

3) Living faith - Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

4) Strong faith - Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

5) Standing faith - 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

6) Shielding faith - Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

7) Sacrificing, serving faith - Philippians 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

8)Steadfast, establishing faith - Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein ° with thanksgiving.

9) Working faith - 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

10) Growing faith - 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth