The woes continue. The Pharisees were very careful to ensure that they gave 10% of their income, even down to the least little bit of "income" from herbs and spices. Yet they neglected the more important things like justice, mercy and faithfulness.
It is easy to find some aspect of our life where we are obeying God, and to go to great lengths to stress and keep that obedience, yet at the same time we can be using this as an excuse for neglecting some other area of our life. It is also easy to get engrossed in the minutiae of life, while neglecting the really important things. Notice that Jesus does not say we should not tithe, but only that we need to keep things in perspective.
The heart of the problem with the Pharisees was that they focused on externals, while neglecting the root of the problem. They focused on outward appearances, but neglected the sinful heart within. We can all do this, and it isn't always done for bad motives. It can seem easier to change the externals, it can seem like something we can do in our own strength. But to effect real change, we need to change the inside, and we can only do this with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We need to beware of thinking that seeking the help of the Holy Spirit is a matter of Him helping us to do things. This is a danger, for it still leaves us in control. No, receiving the help of the Holy Spirit is a matter of us co-operating with Him, doing things His way. To be set free we need to submit to the lordship of the Holy Spirit and to trust in Him.
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