“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.” (Matt 23:23). As a ‘last will and testament’ of Jesus, Matthew’s final usage of ‘Jesus Faith’ is a double tradition pericope known as ‘The Woes Against The Pharisees’ (Matt 23:1-36) and (Luke 11:39ff).
I am hard pressed to enter this text first with the ‘justice theme’. Not simply because it is first in the order of the ‘weightier matters of the law’, but more so because it has resounded in my consciousness so lately as I experience the Justice system in our times— ‘no justice, no peace!’
Judaism, the religion of Jesus, is a legalistic based faith. Clearly, a definitive ‘new beginning’ of this major world religion can be seen in the personhood of Moses, ‘The Law Giver’. This people’s ‘covenant’ with God gave them a “Theocratic” government where God is ruler, judge and king— even through the coming of Jesus whose life times were in an Empire in which ‘freedom of religion’ was only decreed to them.
It must be borne in mind that the Prophets of Israel, ‘the Nabi’, IS ‘the mouthpiece’ of God. It is during the most difficult years in the national life of the Old Testament faith— through the wars and two exiles, that God speaks most urgently and consistently through the prophets concerning justice. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites… neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice…”
It is no small thing that some thought Jesus to be one of the prophets. Just as all the prophets before him spoke of there being no justice in the land— “there is lying, stealing and killing”— Jesus, too, raises a prophetic voice.
Justitia traces her roots to the Ancient Worlds. She embodied law and order. With a very neglected historical footprint, She can now be seen in most every building on the planet that represents… Justice! From antiquity, Justitia always has Four Elements present in her statues: The Sword —as indication that ‘justice should be swift’ with guilt synonymous with execution. She has a Scale —to proclaim that Law and Jurisprudence must be carefully and accurately weighed for balance. Her Toga and Laurel Wreath —speaks of the higher responsibility for the highest level philosophy that accompanies those who practice law and enforce justice. And, originally, Lady Justice was depicted without any impediments to her sight. History has never uncovered the point at which She was given a Blindfold to remove her power to see. She is now Blindfolded —as symbolism depicting objectivity and impartiality; to assure that anyone who approaches seeking justice will not be judged for their appearance, power, status, fame, or wealth.
The Historical Society of the New York Courts credits March 16, 1778, two years after America’s Revolution as the first adoption of Justitia in the U.S. “For over two centuries, courthouses throughout New York have been adorned with portrayals of Lady Justice. The sculptures, carvings and murals, many by renowned artists, are our constant reminder that, in the words of George Washington: the due administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good Government.”
I wondered, again this week just how many Law Suits clogged the 2025 American Justice System with the name of the current U.S. President. What I discovered is a web page by the Associated Press News entitled “Tracking the lawsuits against Donald Trump’s executive actions.” Just enough to ‘blow the mnd’.
All uses of ‘krisis/judgement’ in Matthew are in the mouth of Jesus. The tense here is ‘krisin’, rendered justice and/or judgement by most all translations. This tense is used by Jesus only in relationship to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of his faith. First, in Matt 12:14ff, he becomes aware that the Pharisees have held counsel to destroy him and in withdrawing from them he speaks of fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophesy— ‘The Servant of God’, beloved, sent to bring justice/judgement to victory. Now, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites… neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice…”
Jesus has come down to the end of his life, in the throes of ‘The Passion’— and equally as disturbed about the state of the people of God as were all the prophets before him. As a ‘last will and testament’ he speaks to the religious leaders: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice…”
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