Mint is a fragrant herb mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the context of Jesus' teachings on the Pharisees' practices. The Greek word for mint, "hēdyosmon," refers to a plant known for its aromatic properties and is part of the Lamiaceae family, which includes other herbs such as basil, rosemary, and thyme. Mint was commonly used in the ancient world for culinary, medicinal, and ritual purposes.

Biblical References:

Mint is explicitly mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke. In these passages, Jesus addresses the Pharisees and their meticulous attention to tithing even the smallest of herbs, while neglecting more significant matters of the law.

· Matthew 23:23 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

· Luke 11:42 : "Woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and every kind of herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

In these passages, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their legalistic approach to the law. They were scrupulous in tithing even the smallest herbs, such as mint, yet failed to uphold the weightier aspects of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus emphasizes that while it is not wrong to tithe herbs, it is crucial to prioritize the more significant commandments.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the first-century Jewish context, tithing was an important religious duty, rooted in the Mosaic Law, which required the Israelites to give a tenth of their produce to support the Levites, the poor, and the temple (Leviticus 27:30-33; Deuteronomy 14:22-29). The Pharisees, known for their strict adherence to the law, extended this practice to include even the smallest garden herbs, such as mint.

Mint, along with other herbs, was likely grown in household gardens and used for various purposes, including flavoring food, medicinal remedies, and possibly in religious rituals. Its mention in the Gospels highlights the Pharisees' focus on external religious observance rather than the internal virtues that God desires.

Theological Implications:

The mention of mint in the context of Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritizing the heart of God's commandments. It underscores the danger of legalism, where outward religious practices are emphasized at the expense of inner spiritual truths. Jesus calls His followers to a holistic obedience that encompasses both the letter and the spirit of the law.

By highlighting the Pharisees' neglect of justice, mercy, and faithfulness, Jesus points to the essential qualities that reflect God's character and His kingdom values. These virtues are central to the Christian life and should guide believers in their relationship with God and others.Mint

This name occurs only in (Matthew 23:23) and Luke 11:42 As one of those herbs the tithe of which the Jews were most scrupulously exact in paying. The horse mint, M. Sylvestris , and several other species of mint are common in Syria.

Mint

A garden herb, sufficiently known. The Pharisees, desiring to distinguish themselves by a most scrupulous and literal observation of the law, gave tithes of mint, anise, and cummin, Matthew 23:23. Our Savior does not censure this exactness, but complains, that while they were so precise in these lesser matters, they neglected the essential commandments of the law-making their punctiliousness about easy and external duties an excuse for disregarding their obligations to love God supremely, to be regenerated in heart, and just and beneficent in life.

(Gr. heduosmon, i.e., "having a sweet smell"), one of the garden herbs of which the Pharisees paid tithes (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42). It belongs to the labiate family of plants. The species most common in Syria is the Mentha sylvestris, the wild mint, which grows much larger than the garden mint (M. sativa). It was much used in domestic economy as a condiment, and also as a medicine. The paying of tithes of mint was in accordance with the Mosiac law (Deuteronomy 14:22), but the error of the Pharisees lay in their being more careful about this little matter of the mint than about weightier matters. 1. (n.) The name of several aromatic labiate plants, mostly of the genus Mentha, yielding odoriferous essential oils by distillation. See Mentha.

2. (n.) A place where money is coined by public authority.

3. (n.) Any place regarded as a source of unlimited supply; the supply itself.

4. (v. t.) To make by stamping, as money; to coin; to make and stamp into money.

5. (v. t.) To invent; to forge; to fabricate; to fashion.

MINT

mint (heduosmon): Mentioned (Matthew 23:23 Luke 11:42) as one of the small things which were tithed. The cultivated variety (Mentha piperita), "peppermint," was doubtless primarily intended, but the wild Mentha silvestris or horsemint, which flourishes all over the mountains of Palestine, is probably included.

2238. heduosmon -- sweet smelling
... sweet smelling. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: heduosmon Phonetic
Spelling: (hay-doo'-os-mon) Short Definition: mint, peppermint Definition: mint ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2238.htm - 6k

The Outbreak at Benares.
... There was a large building in cantonments, which had been erected for a mint for
the North-Western Provinces, and had been used for this purpose till the ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xvii the outbreak at.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xi. 39, "Now do Ye Pharisees ...
... Not wheat only, but wine, and oil; nor this only, but even the most trifling things,
cummin, rue, mint, and anise, [3386] in obedience to God's precept, they ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lvi on the words.htm

The Tenth Commandment
... his shop or farm. The fancy is a mint-house, and most of the thoughts in
a covetous man's mint are worldly. He is always plotting ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 1 the tenth commandment.htm

Good Works
... The Pharisee said he tithed mint, anise, and cummin; could he prove that God commanded
him to tithe his mint, his anise, and his cummin? Perhaps not. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/good works.htm

Discourse Pronounced at a Feast against the Hypocrisy of the ...
... [441] They manifested their hypocrisy (v.42) in giving "tithes" of the most trifling
products (mint, cummin, &c.), and entirely neglecting the more essential ...
/.../section 166 discourse pronounced at.htm

A Sermon of the Reverend Father Master Hugh Latimer, Preached in ...
... Is this his charge? I would here ask one question: I would fain know who controlleth
the devil at home in his parish, while he controlleth the mint? ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon of the reverend.htm

Knox's Intrigues, and his Account of Them, 1559
... To prove this she says that they daily receive messengers from England and send
their own; and they have seized the stamps in the Mint (a capital point as ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xi knoxs intrigues and.htm

Woes on the Pharisees
... for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters
of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 67 woes on the.htm

The Second Part.
... and curiositie in lighter matters joyned with omission and neglect of greater, wise
in circumstance, and carelesse in substance, tithing mint, straining at ...
/.../ward/a coal from the altar to kindle the holy fire of zeale/the second part.htm

Of Atheistical Discourse.
... Tis set down in the seat of the scorner, and since it cannot argue, resolves to
laugh all Piety out of countenance, and having seized the mint, nothing shall ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section iii of atheistical discourse.htm

Mint (2 Occurrences)
... The species most common in Syria is the Mentha sylvestris, the wild mint,
which grows much larger than the garden mint (M. sativa). ...
/m/mint.htm - 9k

Neglect (19 Occurrences)
... Matthew 23:23 "Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you pay the
tithe on mint, dill, and cumin, while you have neglected the weightier ...
/n/neglect.htm - 12k

Neglecting (6 Occurrences)
... because ye give tithe of the mint, and the dill, and the cumin, and did neglect
the weightier things of the Law -- the judgment, and the kindness, and the faith ...
/n/neglecting.htm - 8k

Ought (130 Occurrences)
... hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the
weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. ...
/o/ought.htm - 36k

Latter (91 Occurrences)
... hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the
weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. ...
/l/latter.htm - 34k

Tithes (23 Occurrences)
... Matthew 23:23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye pay tithes of
mint and anise and cummin, and ye have left aside the weightier matters of ...
/t/tithes.htm - 14k

Dill (3 Occurrences)
... Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have
left undone the weightier matters of the law," etc. In the ...
/d/dill.htm - 8k

Practiced (22 Occurrences)
... hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the
weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. ...
/p/practiced.htm - 13k

Cummin (3 Occurrences)
... it is mentioned in Matthew 23:23, where our Lord pronounces a "woe" on the scribes
and Pharisees, who were zealous in paying tithes of "mint and anise and ...
/c/cummin.htm - 9k

Anise (1 Occurrence)
... Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have
left undone the weightier matters of the law," etc. In the ...
/a/anise.htm - 9k

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