Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Matthew 23:23-28

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.


tithe - a tenth, for the use of priests and Levites (Leviticus 27:30).

"The tithing of various herbs was based on Lev 27:30.  Though tithing of grain, fruit, wine, and oil was demanded (see also Num 18:12; Deut 14:22-23), the scribes had expanded the items required to be tithed to include even the smallest of herbs." (Ryrie)

cumin = a seed resembling the caraway

whitewashed tombs - "The outsides of tombs were often whitewashed to make them attractive and easily seen, though inside were death and decay." (Ryrie)

full of = full from

The woe in verse 25 is because the Pharisees were concerned with ceremonial cleanliness which can be observed, but not with holiness.

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