Pharisees' Tithe on Herbs and Spices in the New Testament
Jesus criticized the Pharisees for meticulously tithing common garden herbs while neglecting more significant aspects of the Law, such as justice and the love of God [1, 7]. This critique appears in both Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42, though the specific herbs mentioned vary slightly between the accounts [1, 8].
The practice of tithing was a requirement under Mosaic Law, as outlined in passages like Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18:21-32, and Deuteronomy 14:22-29 [7]. The Pharisees, a religious group prominent in the New Testament [4], interpreted these laws with extreme rigor, extending the tithing requirement even to small garden herbs [8]. Luke 11:42 records Jesus saying, "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone" [1]. Matthew 23:23 similarly states, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith" [8].
Mint (Greek: hedyosmon) was a common garden herb known for its sweet smell and use as a condiment and medicine [2]. The species most common in Syria, Mentha sylvestris, is larger than garden mint [2]. Rue (Ruta graveolens) is another garden herb with a powerful scent, used for medicinal and culinary purposes, and is specifically mentioned in Luke's account but omitted in Matthew's parallel passage [3, 8]. "Anise" in Matthew 23:23 is often translated as "dill" [8]. The phrase "all manner of herbs" or "every herb" in Luke 11:42 indicates that the Pharisees extended their tithing to all sorts of garden produce [6].
Commentators note that while tithing these herbs was technically in accordance with the Mosaic Law, the Pharisees' error lay in their disproportionate focus on these minor details while neglecting the "weightier matters" [2, 7]. John Gill highlights that these actions demonstrated their hypocrisy, as they were "very strict in observing some outward things... whilst they neglected internal religion, and those things whi[ch were more important]" [5]. The "weightier matters" are identified as "judgment, mercy, and faith" in Matthew, and "judgment and the love of God" in Luke [8]. Jesus' condemnation, expressed as "woes," contrasts sharply with blessings and underscores the severity of their misplaced priorities [7].
The meticulousness of the Pharisees in tithing even the smallest income from their herb gardens served as an example of their outward show of piety, which Jesus contrasted with their internal spiritual state [5, 7]. This emphasis on external observance over internal righteousness was a recurring theme in Jesus' criticisms of the Pharisees [5].
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] Luke 11:42 — But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mint — (Gr. heduosmon, i.e., "having a sweet smell"), one of the garden herbs of which the Pharisees paid tithes (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42). It belongs to the labiate family of plants. The species most common in Syria is the Mentha sylvestris, the wild mint, which grows much larger than the garden mint (M. sativa). It was much used in domestic economy as a condiment, and also as a medicine. The paying of tithes of mint was in accordance with the Mosiac law (Deut. 14:22), but the error of the Pharisees lay in their being more careful about this little matter of the min”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Rue — A garden herb (Ruta graveolens) which the Pharisees were careful to tithe (Luke 11:42), neglecting weightier matters. It is omitted in the parallel passage of Matt. 23:23. There are several species growing wild in Palestine. It is used for medicinal and culinary purposes. It has a powerful scent, and is a stimulant. (See [541]MINT.)”
- STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=G5330 — Religious group in the New Testament”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 23:22: Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,.... Christ returns to the former epithets he had very rightly given to these men, and very pertinently repeats them here; and which are confirmed by the instances of their conduct and practice here alleged, which abundantly show their hypocrisy and deceit; since they were very strict in observing some outward things, which gave them credit with the people, and especially the priests and Levites, some little trifling ceremonies and traditions of their elders, whilst they neglected internal religion, and those things whi”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 11:40: But woe unto you Pharisees,.... Though these words, with several other passages in this chapter, are much alike with those in Matthew 23 yet it is clear that they were spoken at different times, these in the house of a Pharisee, and they in the temple at Jerusalem: for ye tithe mint and rue; See Gill on Mat 23:23 the Persic version here reads, "mint and anise", as there; and the Ethiopic version only "hyssop": and all manner of herbs; or "every herb"; that is, all sorts of herbs that grow in the garden, and were not common to all; and pass over judgment, and the ”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 11:42: 11:42-52 What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! Woes are the opposite of blessings (see study note on 6:24-26). Jesus pronounced six woes, three against the Pharisees (11:42, 43, 44) and three against the teachers of religious law (11:46, 47, 52). 11:42 tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens: Tithing was required by the law (Lev 27:30-33; Num 18:21-32; Deut 14:22-29; 2 Chr 31:5-12). The Pharisees were meticulous in making sure that everything was properly tithed, but they ignored the more important issues—justice and the love of God.”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 23:23: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise--rather, "dill," as in Margin. and cummin--In Luke (Luk 11:42) it is "and rue, and all manner of herbs." They grounded this practice on Lev 27:30, which they interpreted rigidly. Our Lord purposely names the most trifling products of the earth as examples of what they punctiliously exacted the tenth of. and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith--In Luke (Luk 11:42) it is "judgment, mercy, and the love of God"--the expression bei”