Key Verse: Verse 23 – “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! 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 not to leave the other undone."
Key Words: anise
The anise plant is an herbal, aromatic plant. Every part of the plant is used as a food source: the bulb, the leaves, the seeds, and the root.
The therapeutic vines of the anise plant have been known since ancient times. The anise plant enhances man’s strength, cures insomnia, and stimulates the appetite. Anise contains Vitamins B1 and B2, C, calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sulfur, iron, and aromatic essences. As a food, anise is used for cooking sweet and spicy dishes.
In the Bible, the anise plant is a picture of tithing (see Matthew 23:23). So when you think of the anise plant, think about tithing.
A church was trying to pay for a new building over a period of three years. They asked the church members to pledge how much money they would be willing to give for the new building over the next three years. A poor washwoman belonged to the church. She sent in her pledge card with a commitment of $468.00 (this was back when a dollar was a dollar). The pastor and the deacons just couldn’t believe she could give so much so they went to see her.
They told her, “We know that you love the Lord and want to help with the new building, but you cannot afford to give $468 in three years to the building program. All you do is wash clothes to make a living.”
She replied, “No, I figured it up. I wash three places a day, but I have got another place I can wash. I have turned it down because I have been so tired, but I have decided to do it for the next three years. I am going to give that extra money to the building program.” Then she continued, “Do not cheat me out of this privilege!” So instead of doing three washes a day in the neighborhood, she took four and she called the fourth “the Lord’s wash.” Imagine how much more we could do for the Lord if we had the commitment of this woman!
So when you think of the anise plant, think about your financial commitment to God.
What to do:
✞ Remember the anise plant and giving…and remember, you cannot out-give God.
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