From: Luke 11:42-46

The Hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees (Continuation)

(Jesus said to the Pharisees,) [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 salutations in the market places. [44]
Woe to you! for you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk over them
without knowing it.”

[45] One of the lawyers answered Him, “Teacher, in saying this You reproach
us also.” [46] And He said, “Woe to you lawyers also! for you load men with bur-
dens hard to bear and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your
fingers.”

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Commentary:

42. The Law of Moses laid down that the harvest had to be tithed (cf. Leviticus
27:30-33; Deuteronomy 12:22ff; etc.) to provide for the worship offered in the
temple. Insignificant products were not subject to this Law.

Rue is a bitter medicinal plant used by the Jews in ancient times. Did it have to
be tithed?: the Pharisees, who were so nit-picking, said that it did.

44. According to the Old Law, anyone who touched a grave became unclean for
seven days (Num 19:16), but with the passage of time a grave could become so
overgrown that a person could walk on it without noticing. Our Lord uses this
comparison to unmask the hypocrisy of these people He is talking to: they are
very exact about very small details but they forget their basic duty — justice and
the love of God (verse 42). On the outside they are clean but their hearts are full
of malice and rottenness (verse 39); they pretend to be just, appearances are all
that matters to them; they know that virtue is held in high regard, therefore they
strive to appear highly virtuous (verse 43). Duplicity and deceit mark their lives.

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Mass Readings

First reading	Romans 2:1-11 ©

No matter who you are, if you pass judgement you have no excuse. In judging others you condemn yourself, since you behave no differently from those you judge. We know that God condemns that sort of behaviour impartially: and when you judge those who behave like this while you are doing exactly the same, do you think you will escape God’s judgement? Or are you abusing his abundant goodness, patience and toleration, not realising that this goodness of God is meant to lead you to repentance? Your stubborn refusal to repent is only adding to the anger God will have towards you on that day of anger when his just judgements will be made known. He will repay each one as his works deserve. For those who sought renown and honour and immortality by always doing good there will be eternal life; for the unsubmissive who refused to take truth for their guide and took depravity instead, there will be anger and fury. Pain and suffering will come to every human being who employs himself in evil – Jews first, but Greeks as well; renown, honour and peace will come to everyone who does good – Jews first, but Greeks as well. God has no favourites.

Psalm	Psalm 61:2-3,6-7,9

Gospel	Luke 11:42-46 ©

The Lord said to the Pharisees:

‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!

A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’

‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’