Ye tithe (αποδεκατουτε). The tithe had to be paid upon "all the increase of thy seed" (Deuteronomy 14:22; Leviticus 27:30). The English word tithe is tenth. These small aromatic herbs, mint (το ηδυοσμον, sweet-smelling), anise or dill (ανηθον), cummin (κυμινον, with aromatic seeds), show the Pharisaic scrupulous conscientiousness, all marketable commodities. "The Talmud tells of the ass of a certain Rabbi which had been so well trained as to refuse corn of which the tithes had not been taken" (Vincent).

These ye ought (ταυτα εδε). Jesus does not condemn tithing. What he does condemn is doing it to the neglect of the

weightier matters (τα βαρυτερα). The Pharisees were externalists; cf. Luke 11:39-44.