Inconsistency of Hypocrites

Let us notice, thirdly in this passage, the gross inconsistency which is often exhibited by hypocrites in religion. We read that our Lord says to the Pharisees, “Woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God.” [Luke 11:42] They carried to an extreme their zeal to pay tithes for the service of the temple, and yet they neglected the plainest duties towards God and their neighbors. They were scrupulous to an extreme about small matters in the ceremonial law, and yet they utterly disregarded the simplest first principles of justice to man and love toward God.

In the one direction they were rigidly careful to do even more than was needful. In the other direction they would do nothing at all. In the secondary things of their religion they were downright zealots and enthusiasts. But in the great primary things they were no better than the heathen!

The conduct of the Pharisees in this matter, unfortunately, does not stand alone. There have never been lacking religious professors who have exalted the secondary things of Christianity far above the primary things. And in their zeal for the secondary things, they have finally neglected the essential things entirely. There are thousands at the present day who make much ado about daily services, and keeping Lent, and a gorgeous ceremonial, and other religious rituals but never get any further. They know little or nothing of the great practical duties of humility, charity, meekness, spiritual-mindedness, Bible reading, private devotion, and separation from the world. They plunge into every gaiety with greediness. They are to be seen at every worldly assembly and amusement – at the race, the opera, the theater, and the ball. They exhibit nothing of the mind of Christ in their daily life. What is all this but walking in the steps of the Pharisees?

Well says the wise man, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The generation which tithed mint, rue, and all other kinds of garden herbs but neglected justice and the love of God is not yet extinct!

—J.C. Ryle, ‘Expository Thoughts on Luke’