Mint and Anise and Cumin
Mike Willis
Mooresville, Indiana
On one occasion, Jesus rebuked the hypocritical Pharisees with the following words:
"Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye tithe mint and anise and cumin,
and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done and not to have left the other undone" (Matt. 23:23).
Though the main thought behind Jesus' teaching was that the Jews left undone the most important parts of the law, he also taught that to tithe "mint, and anise, and cumin" should also be done. The three things mentioned as tithed were seeds from three different plants which indicated the meticulous effort to which the Jews went to give the whole tithe to Jehovah. Jesus said that this should have been done (Matt. 23:23--"these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone").
If such giving was expected under the old law, how much more so under the law binding upon us? The factory worker quite often gives a portion of his "take home pay" without thought to what earnings have already been deducted. He has already paid approximately 15-20 percent tax, insurance premiums) valued at the market cost of approximately $50 a month), retirement benefits, and on some occasions other bills which have been consolidated into a loan made through a company program.
Should not these items be considered when giving to the Lord?
TRUTH MAGAZINE XIV: 4, p. 12
November 27, 1969
