Where in the Bible is “Woe to you Pharisees for taken tithe” mentioned?
If you've ever heard someone talk about tithing, you might wonder where in the Bible the phrase "Woe to you Pharisees for taken tithe" comes from. This phrase is actually found in the New Testament, specifically in the book of Luke.
In Luke 11:42, Jesus is speaking to a group of Pharisees and says, "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." Here, Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees for their legalistic focus on tithing and their neglect of more important matters such as justice and love for God.
The concept of tithing, or giving a tenth of one's income to support the work of the church, is actually found throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, tithing was a requirement under the law of Moses. However, in the New Testament, Jesus teaches that tithing should be done with the right attitude and motive, not simply as a legalistic obligation.
In fact, in Matthew 23:23-24, Jesus again rebukes the Pharisees for their focus on tithing while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He says, "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!"
So, while tithing is a biblical concept, Jesus reminds us that it should not be done legalistically or at the expense of more important matters such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. As Christians, we are called to give generously and with a heart of love and gratitude for all that God has given us.