Luke 11:42 (ESV) “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.
The Pharisees were tithers, giving to God 10% of everything they had, even the herbs they were growing. Jesus commends them for tithing, establishing tithing as a New Testament command. The problem was not their tithing. The problem was that they neglected other important things. The important things neglected were promoting justice for people and love for God.
We know from other passages, that the Pharisees always made a public show of giving their tithes. Yet, they looked down on those who had less than them. They had no relationship with God, their prayer were for show.
Luke 11:43-44 (ESV) Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”
The Pharisees liked the applause of men, they always wanted to be first, they were filled with pride. In Jesus’ day, graves were marked, so that no one would inadvertently walk on them. Graves are filled with dead bones and uncleanness.
In the same way, these false teachers deceived people who did not perceive their superior attitude. They were hypocrites, appearing godly on the outside, but full of pride on the inside.
Luke 11:45-46 (ESV) One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.
The lawyers or scribes were the second group of Jewish leaders addressed by Jesus. Jesus pronounced another woe or judgement on the lawyers. They composed thousands of rules for people to keep, yet they did not keep the rules themselves.They likewise put themselves above others. Beware of false teachers who put themselves above others.
False teachers put themselves above others rather than serving others. Some false teachers personally accumulate millions of dollars from people who support their ministries. Their message is that you can be a rich millionaire just like me if you give me your money. That is a false teacher, and no one should enable them in their false ministry, even if they do say some things that are true.
False teachers are always name droppers, letting you know that they move in circles of other high profile people. False teachers have no time to pray for you or to talk to you. May we ourselves always have time for the needy and the hurting. May we use the resources that God has entrusted to us to further His kingdom and to help others, not just for ourselves. Beware false teachers who put themselves above others.