---
title: "Matthew 23:23"
description: "Jesus rebukes meticulous religionists for neglecting 'the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.' Christ Himself pronounces 'woe' for neglecting justice — refuting the idea that justice is a merely Old Testament theme. The New Testament God still says 'woe' to those…"
type: "scripture"
book: "Matthew"
chapter: 23
verses: "23"
translation: "NASB"
refutes: "Pro-life incrementalism"
affirms_abolition: true
themes:
  - "justice as weightier matter"
  - "Jesus on justice"
  - "same God"
  - "hypocrisy"
  - "woe"
source_url: "https://www.abhortion.org/scripture/matthew-23-23.html"
---

# Matthew 23:23

Book of Matthew · Chapter 23

## The text

> “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.”
> — Matthew 23:23, NASB

**The claim this verse counters:** "Justice is an Old Testament concern superseded by the New Covenant."

## The argument

Jesus rebukes meticulous religionists for neglecting 'the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.' Christ Himself pronounces 'woe' for neglecting justice — refuting the idea that justice is a merely Old Testament theme. The New Testament God still says 'woe' to those who neglect justice.

## Context & notes

Used to close the loop that 'the same God' commands justice in both testaments. Directly answers 'things changed after Christ.' Jesus names justice a 'weightier' matter, not an optional one.

## Themes

- justice as weightier matter
- Jesus on justice
- same God
- hypocrisy
- woe

## Discussion questions

1. Jesus calls justice a 'weightier' matter of the law. How does that answer the claim that justice is 'just an Old Testament thing'?
2. What are the 'mint and dill' we might tithe while neglecting justice for the unborn?

## Source transcript

Drawn from Does the Pro-Life Movement Hate Justice? (T. Russell Hunter, 'Justice Alone') — 'Woe to you Pharisees... you neglect justice and the love of God' — cited to show Christ repeats the prophets..

## Related

**Related scriptures:**

- [Isaiah 10:1-2](isaiah-10-1-2.md)
- [Micah 6:8](micah-6-8.md)
- [Matthew 25:41-45](matthew-25-41-45.md)

**Related arguments:**

- [God commands 'justice, and only justice' — not partial or deferred justice](../arguments/arg-justice-only.md)
- [Tolerating child sacrifice invites national judgment — doing justice forestalls it](../arguments/arg-national-judgment.md)

## Attribution

Verse text is quoted from the NASB. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org