Fragments on Matthew · §230

Matthew 23:23

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You exact tithes, he says, Pharisees — perhaps even of fine herbs — while leaving aside the commands whose transgression is greater. And what are those injunctions? Judgment — that is, judging what is right and blameless — and mercy — that is, genuineness toward God. For judgment and mercy and faith toward God are better than tithe and firstfruits. That is why through the prophet the God of all says: And now, Israel, “what does the Lord God seek from you but to do judgment and to love” (Deuteronomy 10:12) (Matthew 23:23) and to seek “mercy, and to be ready to walk with the Lord your God”? For in being very ready to follow, what is saved into genuine faith is seen.

See the rebuke: you exact tithes, Pharisees — perhaps even of fine herbs — leaving aside the commands whose transgression is greater. And what are those commands? Judgment — judging rightly — and mercy and faith toward God; for these are better than tithe and firstfruits. That is why through the prophet the God of all says: And now, Israel, “what does the Lord God seek from you but to do judgment and to love” and to seek “mercy, and to be ready to walk with the Lord your God”?

Greek

Ἀπαιτεῖτε, φησίν; ὦ Φαρι σαῖοι, τὰς δεκάτας τάχα που καὶ λαχάνων λεπτῶν παρέντες τὰς ἐντο λάς, ἐφ' αἷς ἐστιν μείζων ἡ παρά βασις. καὶ ποῖα ταῦτά ἐστιν τὰ ἐντάλματα; ἡ κρίσις, τοῦτ' ἔστιν τὸ κρίνειν ὀρθὰ καὶ ἀμώμητα, καὶ τὸ ἔλεος, τοῦτ' ἔστιν ἡ εἰς θεὸν γνησιότης· ἄμεινον γὰρ κρίσις καὶ ἔλεος καὶ πίστις ἡ εἰς θεὸν δεκάτης καὶ ἀπαρχῆς. διὸ καὶ διὰ τοῦ προφήτου φησὶν ὁ τῶν ὅλων θεός· καὶ νῦν, Ἰσραήλ, "τί κύριος" ὁ θεὸς "ζητεῖ παρὰ σοῦ ἀλλ' ἢ τοῦ ποιεῖν κρίμα καὶ ἀγαπᾶν" καὶ ζη τεῖν "ἔλεον καὶ ἕτοιμον εἶναι τοῦ πορεύεσθαι μετὰ κυρίου" τοῦ "θεοῦ σου". ἐν γὰρ τῷ λίαν ἑτοίμῳ πρὸς ἀκολούθησιν τὸ εἰς πίστιν γνησίαν ὁρᾶται σῳζόμενον. Ὅρα τὴν ἐπίπληξιν· ἀπαιτεῖτε, φησίν, ὦ Φαρισαῖοι, τὰς δεκάτας τάχα που καὶ λαχάνων λεπτῶν παρ έντες τὰς ἐντολάς, ἐφ' αἷς ἐστι μείζων ἡ παράβασις. ποῖαι δὲ αὗται αἱ ἐντολαί; ἡ κρίσις, τοῦτ' ἔστιν τὸ κρίνειν ὀρθὰ καὶ τὸ ἔλεος καὶ ἡ πίστις εἰς θεόν· ταῦτα γὰρ ἀμείνω δεκάτης καὶ ἀπαρχῆς. διὸ καὶ διὰ τοῦ προφήτου φησὶν ὁ τῶν ὅλων θεός· καὶ νῦν, Ἰσραήλ, "τί κύριος" ὁ θεὸς "ζητεῖ παρὰ σοῦ ἀλλ' ἢ τοῦ ποιεῖν κρίμα καὶ ἀγα πᾶν" καὶ ζητεῖν "ἔλεον καὶ ἕτοιμον εἶναι τοῦ πορεύεσθαι μετὰ κυρίου" τοῦ "θεοῦ σου".

About this text

Catena fragments on Matthew (CPG 5206). Contents follow Matthew chapter and verse. Edition fragment numbers stay in About this text and under each passage.

English follows the named copy-text (Aegean/khazarzar Migne PG 72 extract). Other prints were checked as noted; no silent merge of recensions.

Witnesses

This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.