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
(Lu 11:42)
it is "and rue, and all manner of herbs." They grounded this practice
on
Le 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
(Lu 11:42)
it is "judgment, mercy, and the love of God"--the expression being
probably varied by our Lord Himself on the two different occasions. In
both His reference is to
Mic 6:6-8,
where the prophet makes all acceptable religion to consist of three
elements--"doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our
God"; which third element presupposes and comprehends both the "faith"
of Matthew and the "love" of Luke. See on
Mr 12:29;
Mr 12:32, 33.
The same tendency to merge greater duties in less besets even the
children of God; but it is the characteristic of hypocrites.
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone--There
is no need for one set of duties to jostle out another; but it is to be
carefully noted that of the greater duties our Lord says, "Ye ought
to have done" them, while of the lesser He merely says, "Ye ought
not to leave them undone."
JFB.
Outline
Jesus reproves the scribes and Pharisees. (1-12)
Crimes of the Pharisees. (13-33)
The guilt of Jerusalem. (34-39)
Painted Illustration of a Pharisee During the time of Jesus
Important Topics for Bible Study
Quick Reference Map
Map of Judea in the Time of Jesus
(Click to Enlarge)
Painted Illustration of a Scribe During the time of Jesus
Painted Illustration of a Rabbi During the time of Jesus
Ancient Customs
Geography
Jerusalem
Judaea
Matthew Resources
The New Testament