Jesus is very careful in pronouncing the “woes” to the scribes and Pharisees. He does not criticize that they followed the law but that they “neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity.” Jesus once said, “by their fruits you will know them.” The fruits he said we should be looking for do not consist of being good at keeping the commandments, attending church, paying tithes but rather in treating those who are hurting around us with compassion. “Whatsoever you do to the least, you do to me.” The constant temptation for godly people is to follow the rules and think that we’re doing pretty good. Jesus suggests that we open our eyes to see those around us who need care — we are not doing good until everyone around us is doing well.
