Matthew 23:23
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: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 36
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Φαρισαῖοι
Pharisees
G5330
Φαρισαῖοι
Pharisees
Strong's:
G5330
Word #:
5 of 36
a separatist, i.e., exclusively religious; a pharisean, i.e., jewish sectary
ὑποκριταί
hypocrites
G5273
ὑποκριταί
hypocrites
Strong's:
G5273
Word #:
6 of 36
an actor under an assumed character (stage-player), i.e., (figuratively) a dissembler ("hypocrite"
ὅτι
! for
G3754
ὅτι
! for
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
7 of 36
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 36
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 36
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 #:
12 of 36
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 36
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 #:
15 of 36
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
17 of 36
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀφιέναι
have omitted
G863
ἀφιέναι
have omitted
Strong's:
G863
Word #:
18 of 36
to send forth, in various applications (as follow)
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 36
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 36
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νόμου
matters of the law
G3551
νόμου
matters of the law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
22 of 36
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
23 of 36
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κρίσιν
judgment
G2920
κρίσιν
judgment
Strong's:
G2920
Word #:
24 of 36
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 #:
25 of 36
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 36
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
28 of 36
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 #:
29 of 36
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πίστιν·
faith
G4102
πίστιν·
faith
Strong's:
G4102
Word #:
30 of 36
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
ἔδει
ought ye
G1163
ἔδει
ought ye
Strong's:
G1163
Word #:
32 of 36
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 #:
33 of 36
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
Cross References
Luke 11:42But 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.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?Hosea 6:6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.Matthew 9:13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.Proverbs 21:3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.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.Leviticus 27:30And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.Matthew 12:7But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.Luke 18:12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Historical Context
Pharisaic oral law (later codified in Mishnah) extended tithing beyond biblical requirements to include all garden produce. Tractate Ma'aserot detailed which herbs required tithing. This hyper-scrupulosity gained them reputation for piety while they neglected justice (oppressing widows, unjust courts) and mercy (lack of compassion for the poor). Jesus spoke days before His crucifixion—the ultimate proof they had abandoned justice and mercy.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern "mint and anise" religious practices do you emphasize while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness?
- How does Jesus's hierarchy of "weightier matters" challenge the tendency to treat all biblical commands as equally important?
- In what ways do Christians today strain gnats (minor doctrinal precision) while swallowing camels (tolerating greed, pride, or cruelty)?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin (ἀποδεκατοῦτε τὸ ἡδύοσμον καὶ τὸ ἄνηθον καὶ τὸ κύμινον)—the Pharisees meticulously tithed garden herbs not even required by Mosaic law (Leviticus 27:30 specified grain, wine, oil). This extreme scrupulosity revealed their zeal for externals while omitted the weightier matters (ἀφήκατε τὰ βαρύτερα)—they abandoned krisis (justice), eleos (mercy), and pistis (faithfulness). Jesus uses "weightier" (βαρύτερα) to establish hierarchy in God's commands: moral law outweighs ceremonial precision.
These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone—Christ affirms the Mosaic law's continuing validity (Matthew 5:17-18) while condemning inverted priorities. The Pharisees strained out gnats (ritual minutiae) but swallowed camels (moral corruption)—verse 24's vivid metaphor. This woe targets religion that majors on minors.