Rue
The Plant Called Rue
Rue (Ruta graveolens or the related species Ruta chalepensis, native to the eastern Mediterranean) is a small evergreen shrub growing two to four feet tall with blue-green leaves and small yellow flowers. It has a strong, pungent odor that many Westerners find disagreeable but which was appreciated in the ancient Near East. The plant was widely cultivated in gardens throughout Palestine for its aromatic and medicinal properties.
Jesus' Rebuke of the Pharisees
Rue appears in the Bible only in Luke 11:42, where Jesus delivers a scathing critique of Pharisaic religion: 'Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue, and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.' The parallel passage in Matthew 23:23 mentions mint, dill, and cumin instead of rue, but the point is identical.
The Issue of Tithing Herbs
The Mosaic law required tithes on agricultural produce, primarily grain, wine, and oil (Deuteronomy 14:22-23). The Pharisees extended this requirement to include even the smallest garden herbs — counting out every tenth sprig of rue from their kitchen gardens. While this scrupulous attention to detail was not wrong in itself (Jesus said 'you should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone'), the problem was that it had become a substitute for the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Straining Gnats, Swallowing Camels
Jesus' critique of herb-tithing is part of a broader indictment of misplaced religious priorities. In the same discourse, he accused the Pharisees of 'straining out a gnat but swallowing a camel' (Matthew 23:24). The meticulous counting of rue leaves while ignoring the needs of the poor and oppressed perfectly illustrates this inversion of values. External religious observance, no matter how precise, cannot substitute for genuine love of God and neighbor.
Rue in Ancient Medicine and Culture
In the ancient world, rue was valued for its many uses. It was employed as a digestive aid, an antidote for poison, and a remedy for eye problems. Greek and Roman writers including Pliny the Elder documented its medicinal applications. In Palestinian folk culture, sprigs of rue were sometimes attached to children's clothing as protective charms. The plant's strong aroma was believed to repel evil influences. Its cultivation in household gardens was common, making it a familiar and accessible example for Jesus' audience.
The Enduring Lesson
The mention of rue in Jesus' teaching carries a timeless warning. Religious scrupulousness about minor details can become a way of avoiding the harder demands of faith — doing justice, showing mercy, walking humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Jesus did not condemn careful obedience but insisted that it must flow from, not replace, genuine love for God and compassion for others.
Biblical Context
Rue appears only in Luke 11:42, within Jesus' series of woes against the Pharisees. The parallel passage in Matthew 23:23 substitutes dill and cumin for rue. The broader context includes Jesus' critique of Pharisaic hypocrisy (Luke 11:37-54; Matthew 23:1-36) and connects to Old Testament tithing laws (Deuteronomy 14:22-23; Leviticus 27:30).
Theological Significance
Rue in Jesus' teaching illustrates the danger of substituting external religious precision for internal spiritual transformation. The Pharisees' herb-tithing was not wrong but became spiritually harmful when it displaced justice, mercy, and love. This teaches that God values heart-level devotion expressed through compassionate action, not mere religious performance.
Historical Background
Rue (Ruta chalepensis) is indigenous to the eastern Mediterranean and grows wild throughout Palestine. Its cultivation in domestic gardens has been documented since antiquity. The Mishnah (Ma'aserot 4:5) debated whether rue was subject to tithing, indicating that this was a genuine question in first-century Jewish practice. Greek and Roman botanical writers including Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Pliny the Elder described rue's properties and uses. Archaeological evidence of herb gardens from the Roman period has been found at various sites in Israel.