Luke 11:42

Woes to Pharisees and Experts in the Law · Luke 11:37–54
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Translations

Modern
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.
Traditional
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.
Literal
But woe to you, the Pharisees, because you pay tithes of mint and rue and every herb, and you pass by the judgment and the love of God. But it was necessary to do these things, and those not to neglect.
Latin
Sed væ vobis, pharisæis, quia decimatis mentham, et rutam, et omne olus, et præteritis judicium et caritatem Dei: hæc autem oportuit facere, et illa non omittere.

Original

Greek
English
Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Notes

pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb: The law required tithing (giving one tenth to God; see Leviticus 27:30–33; Numbers 18:21–32; Deuteronomy 14:22–29; 2 Chronicles 31:5–12). The Pharisees were careful to tithe everything correctly. But they ignored what was more important: justice and the love of God.

Woe to you Pharisees! Woes are the opposite of blessings (see study note on 6:24–26). Jesus pronounced six woes. Three were against the Pharisees (11:42, 43, 44) and three were against the teachers of religious law (11:46, 47, 52).

Theme notes and profiles

The Pharisees Encounters with Jesus

Events

Parallels

Matthew 23:1–36

People

Pharisee: A strict Jewish sect known for legalism and hypocrisy

Glossary

Apothegm Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Food and Food Preparation Hypocrisy Luke, Gospel of Mint Rue Scribe Tithe, Tithing

Topics

Herbs: Destroyed by Tithable Among the Jews Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning Integrity: General Scriptures Concerning Jesus, the Christ: Denounces the Pharisees and Other Hypocrites (In Galilee) Justice: The Wicked: Pass Over Love of Man for God Love to God: Hypocrites, Without Mint: General Scriptures Concerning Paying Tithes Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by Jesus Reproof: Faithfulness in Jesus, of the Scribes and Pharisees Rue: General Scriptures Concerning Satire of Jesus Against Hypocrites Self-Righteousness is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is: but External Self-Righteousness: Pharisees Teachers: False: Admonition Against Tithe: The Pharisees Scrupulous in Paying Tithes: Customary in Later Times