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.
Original Language Analysis
ἀλλ'
But
G235
ἀλλ'
But
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
1 of 30
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Φαρισαίοις
Pharisees
G5330
Φαρισαίοις
Pharisees
Strong's:
G5330
Word #:
5 of 30
a separatist, i.e., exclusively religious; a pharisean, i.e., jewish sectary
ὅτι
! for
G3754
ὅτι
! for
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
6 of 30
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
8 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
10 of 30
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 30
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
16 of 30
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παρέρχεσθε
pass over
G3928
παρέρχεσθε
pass over
Strong's:
G3928
Word #:
17 of 30
to come near or aside, i.e., to approach (arrive), go by (or away), (figuratively) perish or neglect, (causative) avert
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κρίσιν
judgment
G2920
κρίσιν
judgment
Strong's:
G2920
Word #:
19 of 30
decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice (especially, divine law)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
20 of 30
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀγάπην
the love
G26
ἀγάπην
the love
Strong's:
G26
Word #:
22 of 30
love, i.e., affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
23 of 30
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ·
of God
G2316
θεοῦ·
of God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
24 of 30
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
ἔδει
ought ye
G1163
ἔδει
ought ye
Strong's:
G1163
Word #:
26 of 30
also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding)
ποιῆσαι
to have done
G4160
ποιῆσαι
to have done
Strong's:
G4160
Word #:
27 of 30
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
Cross References
Matthew 23:23Woe 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: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.Luke 18:12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.Proverbs 21:3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.1 John 4:20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?Malachi 3:8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.Micah 6:8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?Matthew 23:27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.1 Samuel 15:22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Historical Context
Pharisaic tithe expansion extended Levitical requirements (Leviticus 27:30) to include every garden herb, creating burdensome regulations. This meticulous observance garnered public admiration but obscured Scripture's central commands: justice for the oppressed, mercy toward the poor, and love for God. Their religious system became performance art divorced from righteousness.
Questions for Reflection
- What religious minutiae consume your energy while you neglect weightier matters of justice, mercy, and love?
- How do you determine which biblical commands are central versus peripheral?
- In what ways might religious scrupulosity distract from costly obedience in relationships and social justice?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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 (ἀποδεκατοῦτε τὸ ἡδύοσμον καὶ τὸ πήγανον...καὶ παρέρχεσθε τὴν κρίσιν καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην τοῦ θεοῦ)—the first 'woe' (ouai) condemns misplaced priorities. Pharisees meticulously tithed garden herbs (mint, rue, cumin) not required by Torah while parerchomai (bypassing) justice (krisis) and love of God (agapē tou theou). These ought ye to have done—Jesus doesn't abolish tithing but establishes priorities: justice and love are 'weightier matters' (Matthew 23:23).
Scrupulous religious performance without justice and compassion is worthless. This echoes Micah 6:8: 'do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with thy God.' The Pharisees' error wasn't diligence but distortion—majoring in minors while ignoring essentials.