Luke 11:42

Listen to Luke 11:42
42 1“But woe to you Pharisees! For 2you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect 3justice and 4the love of God. 5These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

Luke 11:42 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:42

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 Matthew 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 love of God:
by "judgment" may be meant justice, or doing that which is right between man and man, both publicly and privately, which was greatly neglected by these extortioners and unjust men: and by "the love of God" may be intended, both love to God, which shows itself in the observance of the first table of the law, and love to the neighbour, which God requires, and regards the second table:

these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone;
(See Gill on Matthew 23:23).

Unlock Deeper Insights: Get Over 20 Commentaries with Plus! Subscribe Now

Luke 11:42 In-Context

40 You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?
41 But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.
44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it. ”

Cross References 5

  • 1. 11:42 Matt. 23:23
  • 2. 11:42 ch. 18:12; Deut. 14:22
  • 3. 11:42 Ps. 33:5; Jer. 5:1; Mic. 6:8; Zech. 7:9
  • 4. 11:42 [1 John 3:17]
  • 5. 11:42 [1 Sam. 15:22]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025