In New Testament times, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law had added human traditions to the commandments of God. One of those added traditions, as an extension of the tithe of the land, was to provide a tenth of their garden herbs to the Temple (Luke 11:42). The Pulpit Commentary mentions that the unique Old Testament tithe included essential crops, however the Pharisees and others “had prolonged the primitive obligation to the smallest garden herbs.”
Matthew’s Gospel specifically names these tithed herbs as mint, dill, and cumin (Matthew 23:23). Some versions translate dill on this verse as anise, which is one other common spice (KJV, ASV). However, modern translations are inclined to favor dill as the popular translation (NIV, ESV, CSB). The specific classifications of the herbs will not be as essential as Jesus’ rebuke. He mentioned the plants to emphasise the glaring inconsistency within the Pharisees’ religious practice. They had focused a lot on small matters – tithing mint, dill, and cumin – while failing to care concerning the more essential matters of the Law: “justice, mercy, and faith” (Matthew 23:23).
Tithing was not the issue. They must have done this along with obeying what God had commanded about coping with others. As each of the seven woes show, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law were hypocrites. Appearing outwardly righteous and devout, they didn’t see that they were inwardly sinful and were merely putting on a non secular show. Jesus rightly told the disciples earlier on this chapter, “[the Pharisees] don’t practice what they preach” (Matthew 23:3).
People today can even miss the spirit of the commands in Scripture. God is more concerned with our hearts – that we care concerning the things He does. Mercy, not empty worship, is what the Lord desires from us. The prophet Micah explained this well: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is sweet. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to like mercy and to walk humbly along with your God” (Micah 6:8).
We shouldn’t wander away in the main points of spiritual practice and neglect the larger picture of what it means to follow the Lord. Simple herbs can remind us of this truth.
Sources
The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, John D. Hannah, “Exodus,” Victor, 1983, p. 128
Smith’s Bible Dictionary, William Smith p. 63
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