Reflection on Matthew 23:23–26

The Gospel calls us beyond culture wars to a life of justice, mercy, and love, not superficial piety.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.” (Matthew 23:23–26).

Insects and a Sprig of Rosemary, Painting by Jan van Kessel the Elder Painter (1626 - 1679), Painted in 1653, Oil on copper © National Gallery of Art, Washington. Christian.Art

Jesus’ words in this passage are direct and uncomfortable. He speaks to religious leaders who focused on outward observance—meticulously counting the smallest herbs for tithing—while neglecting the very heart of God’s law: justice, mercy, and faith.

Today, we too can be tempted to focus on outward appearances or to become absorbed in “culture wars” that pit one group against another. Much energy is spent debating who is right, who belongs, who is pure enough—while the Gospel call to compassion, justice, and reconciliation can be left in the shadows.

As Catholics and as Church, we are reminded that our mission is not to win arguments, nor to polish the outside of the cup, but to bear witness to God’s mercy. The credibility of our faith is not found in how fiercely we defend positions in public debates, but in how deeply we embody love, justice, and mercy in daily life.

Cardijn often insisted that faith must be lived in the real world—in the struggles of workers, families, and communities. That is where the “inside of the cup” must be cleaned and renewed: in our concern for the poor, the excluded, the earth, and all who yearn for dignity.

May we not be trapped by the distractions of culture wars, but instead return to the heart of the Gospel. For it is justice and mercy, not pride or self-righteousness, that draw us closer to God.