The Meaning of Luke 11:42 Explained

Luke 11:42

KJV: 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.

YLT: 'But woe to you, the Pharisees, because ye tithe the mint, and the rue, and every herb, and ye pass by the judgment, and the love of God; these things it behoveth to do, and those not to be neglecting.

Darby: But woe unto you, Pharisees, for ye pay tithes of mint and rue and every herb, and pass by the judgment and the love of God: these ye ought to have done, and not have left those aside.

ASV: But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: but these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Luke 11:42 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 11:33-44 - Dark And Foul Within
"The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord," Proverbs 20:27. How many unlit candles there are! Will you not ask whether Christ has ever kindled you with His divine light and life? You have the capacity for God, but this is not enough: Christ must give you light, Ephesians 5:14. Seek the clear shining of the inner light, and remember that it will grow clearer and brighter just in proportion as it is obeyed and followed. What a glorious conception this is, that the Lord Jesus shall so fill us with the radiance and warmth of His love that there shall be no part dark!
Our Lord's denunciations of the religious leaders of His time reveal the wrath of infinite truth and purity against all that is inconsistent with either. Because He loved His sheep, the Good Shepherd must warn them against wolves. Notice Luke 11:41, r.v., which means that our faith, love and joy are to be shared with others. Let us be munificent and generous in self-giving. There is no law of the tithe here! Give all! [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 11

1  Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11  assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him
14  He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27  and shows who are blessed;
29  preaches to the people;
37  and reprimands the outward show of holiness

Greek Commentary for Luke 11:42

Tithe [αποδεκατουτε]
Late verb for the more common δεκατευω — dekateuō So in Matthew 23:23. Take a tenth off Rue Botanical term in late writers from πηγνυμι — pēgnumi to make fast because of its thick leaves. Here Matthew 23:23 has “anise.” [source]
Every herb [παν λαχανον]
General term as in Mark 4:32. Matthew has “cummin.”Pass by (παρερχεστε — parerchesthe). Present middle indicative of παρερχομαι — parerchomai common verb, to go by or beside. Matthew 23:23 has “ye have left undone” (απηκατε — aphēkate). Luke here has “love” (αγαπην — agapēn), not in Matthew.Ought As in Matthew. Imperfect of a present obligation, not lived up to just like our “ought” Παρειναι — Pareinai as in Matthew, the second aorist active infinitive of απιημι — aphiēmi to leave off. Common verb. Luke does not have the remark about straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel (Matthew 23:34). It is plain that the terrible exposure of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 in the temple was simply the culmination of previous conflicts such as this one. [source]
Pass by [παρερχεστε]
Present middle indicative of παρερχομαι — parerchomai common verb, to go by or beside. Matthew 23:23 has “ye have left undone” Luke here has “love” (αγαπην — agapēn), not in Matthew. [source]
Ought [εδει]
As in Matthew. Imperfect of a present obligation, not lived up to just like our “ought” Παρειναι — Pareinai as in Matthew, the second aorist active infinitive of απιημι — aphiēmi to leave off. Common verb. Luke does not have the remark about straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel (Matthew 23:34). It is plain that the terrible exposure of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 in the temple was simply the culmination of previous conflicts such as this one. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 11:42

John 5:42 The love of God []
Love toward God. This was the summary of their own law. The phrase occurs elsewhere in the Gospels only in Luke 11:42. [source]
John 17:1 Lifting up [επαρας]
First aorist active participle of επαιρω — epairō old and common verb with οπταλμους — ophthalmous (eyes) as in John 4:35; John 6:5; John 11:41. Father Vocative form as in John 16:5, John 16:11; John 11:41, Christ‘s usual way of beginning his prayers. It is inconceivable that this real Lord‘s Prayer is the free composition of a disciple put into the mouth of Jesus. It is rather “the tenacious memory of an old man recalling the greatest days of his life” (Bernard), aided by the Holy Spirit promised for this very purpose (John 14:26; John 16:13.). Jesus had the habit of prayer (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Matthew 11:25.; Luke 3:21; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18, Luke 9:28; Luke 11:22, Luke 11:42; Luke 23:34, Luke 23:46; John 11:41; John 12:27). He prayed here for himself (John 17:1-5), for the disciples (John 17:6-19), for all believers (John 17:20-26). The prayer is similar in spirit to the Model Prayer for us in Matthew 6:9-13. The hour for his glorification has come as he had already told the disciples (John 13:31.; John 12:23). Glorify thy Son First aorist active imperative of δοχαζω — doxazō the only personal petition in this prayer. Jesus had already used this word δοχαζω — doxazō for his death (John 13:31.). Here it carries us into the very depths of Christ‘s own consciousness. It is not merely for strength to meet the Cross, but for the power to glorify the Father by his death and resurrection and ascension, “that the Son may glorify thee” Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist active subjunctive. [source]
John 5:42 But I know you [αλλα εγνωκα υμας]
Perfect active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō “I have come to know and still know,” the knowledge of personal experience (John 2:24.). The love o‘ God Objective genitive, “the love toward God.” See Luke 11:42 for this phrase in the same sense (only other instance in the Gospels, but common in 1John (1 John 2:5; 1 John 3:17; 1 John 4:7, 1 John 4:9; 1 John 5:3) and in 2 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Romans 5:5. The sense of God‘s love for man occurs in 1 John 3:1; 1 John 4:9, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:16; John 15:9. of Christ‘s love for man. These rabbis did not love God and hence did not love Christ. [source]
Hebrews 7:4 The tenth [δεκάτην]
Properly an adjective, but used as a noun for tithe. Only in Hebrews, as is the kindred verb δεκατοῦν toimpose or take tithes. Ἀποδεκατοῖν toexact tithes, Hebrews 7:5. Comp. Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42. [source]
Hebrews 12:12 The hands which hang down [τὰς παρειμένας χεῖρας]
Rend. the slackened or weakened hands. Comp. Isaiah 35:3; 2Samuel href="/desk/?q=2sa+4:1&sr=1">2 Samuel 4:1. The verb παριέναι (only here and Luke 11:42) originally means to let pass, disregard, neglect; thence to relax, loosen. See Clem. Rom. Ad Corinth. xxxiv, who associates it with νωθρὸς slothful(comp. Hebrews 5:11). [source]
Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore [διο]
Because of the chastening. Lift up First aorist active imperative of ανορτοω — anorthoō old compound (from ανα ορτος — ana class="normal greek">παρειμενας — orthos) to make straight, in N.T. here and Luke 13:13; Acts 15:16. Hang down (παριημι — pareimenas). Perfect passive participle of παραλελυμενα — pariēmi old verb to let pass, to relax, in N.T. only here and Luke 11:42. Palsied (παραλυω — paralelumena). Perfect passive participle of paraluō old verb to loosen on the side, to dissolve, to paralyze (Luke 5:18, Luke 5:24). [source]
Hebrews 12:12 Lift up [ανορτωσατε]
First aorist active imperative of ανορτοω — anorthoō old compound (from ανα ορτος — ana class="normal greek">παρειμενας — orthos) to make straight, in N.T. here and Luke 13:13; Acts 15:16. Hang down (παριημι — pareimenas). Perfect passive participle of παραλελυμενα — pariēmi old verb to let pass, to relax, in N.T. only here and Luke 11:42. Palsied (παραλυω — paralelumena). Perfect passive participle of paraluō old verb to loosen on the side, to dissolve, to paralyze (Luke 5:18, Luke 5:24). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 11:42 mean?

But woe to you - Pharisees for you pay tithes of - mint and rue every herb you pass by the justice love - of God These things also it behooved [you] to do and those not to neglect
Ἀλλὰ οὐαὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς Φαρισαίοις ὅτι ἀποδεκατοῦτε τὸ ἡδύοσμον καὶ πήγανον πᾶν λάχανον παρέρχεσθε τὴν κρίσιν ἀγάπην τοῦ Θεοῦ ταῦτα δὲ ἔδει ποιῆσαι κἀκεῖνα μὴ παρεῖναι

οὐαὶ  woe 
Parse: Interjection
Root: οὐαί  
Sense: alas, woe.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
τοῖς  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Φαρισαίοις  Pharisees 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: Φαρισαῖος  
Sense: A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile.
ἀποδεκατοῦτε  you  pay  tithes  of 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀποδεκατεύω 
Sense: to give, pay a tithe of anything.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἡδύοσμον  mint 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἡδύοσμον  
Sense: sweet smelling, garden mint.
πήγανον  rue 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πήγανον  
Sense: rue.
πᾶν  every 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
λάχανον  herb 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: λάχανον  
Sense: any pot herb, vegetables.
παρέρχεσθε  you  pass  by 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: παρέρχομαι  
Sense: to go past, pass by.
κρίσιν  justice 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: κρίσις  
Sense: a separating, sundering, separation.
ἀγάπην  love 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀγάπη  
Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεοῦ  of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ταῦτα  These  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
δὲ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἔδει  it  behooved  [you] 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δεῖ  
Sense: it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper.
ποιῆσαι  to  do 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.
κἀκεῖνα  and  those 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: κἀκεῖνος  
Sense: and he, he also.
παρεῖναι  to  neglect 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: παρίημι  
Sense: to let pass.