“42 “But 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; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
43 “Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places.
44 “Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.” Luke 11:42-44.
Notice the comparison of their meticulous attention to outward (appearance) versus their neglect to inside (virtues).
Notice the comparison of their meticulous attention to the minor (paying tithe of every kind of garden herb, no matter how small) versus their neglect of the major (justice and love).
Notice the comparison of their meticulous attention to themselves (their payment) versus their neglect of God (the love of God).
Notice the comparison of their love of the chief seats of the synagogue versus the love of God.
Notice the comparison between their appearance of respect (chief seats in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the market places) versus their true spiritual condition (concealed tombs).
What is Jesus’ conclusion? “Woe to you Pharisees!”
What can we learn from this Scripture in summary besides to just not be like the Pharisees?
In summary, through God’s grace of washing us through His word, we can pay greater attention to virtues (compared to appearance), the major virtues (compared to minor legalism), the works of God (compared to our works), love of God and other people (compared to love of respect for ourselves), and our true spiritual condition (compared to how others think of us).
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 