Matthew 23 18

Matthew 23:18 kjv

And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.

Matthew 23:18 nkjv

And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.'

Matthew 23:18 niv

You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.'

Matthew 23:18 esv

And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.'

Matthew 23:18 nlt

And you say that to swear 'by the altar' is not binding, but to swear 'by the gifts on the altar' is binding.

Matthew 23 verses

Matthew 23 18 Meaning

This verse exposes the pharisaic distortion of oath-taking, specifically concerning the Temple. Jesus highlights their erroneous teaching that an oath sworn by the altar itself carried no binding obligation, whereas an oath sworn by the monetary gift placed upon the altar was considered legally binding. This false distinction prioritizes material offerings over the sacredness of the divine space that sanctifies the offering, revealing a profound misunderstanding of spiritual truth and a form of self-serving legalism.

Matthew 23 18 Context

Matthew 23 records Jesus' climactic denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees, particularly for their hypocrisy and spiritual blindness. The verses immediately preceding Matthew 23:18 (verses 16-17) address similar corrupt interpretations concerning oaths made by the Temple versus the gold in the Temple. In verse 18, Jesus continues this theme, exposing their self-serving casuistry related to the altar and its offerings. They meticulously categorized oaths, deeming some binding and others not, based on human regulations rather than divine principles. This approach allowed them to circumvent commitments or manipulate others, thereby prioritizing financial gain or technical loopholes over the sanctity of an oath and the truth it implied. This particular woe (the seventh of the series) reveals their twisted spiritual priorities, where material offerings held more perceived value than the sacred place established by God Himself.

Matthew 23 18 Word analysis

• And whoever swears (καὶ ὃς ἐὰν ὀμόσῃ, kai hos ean omosē): This introduces the conditional statement concerning oath-taking. To "swear" (ὀμόσῃ) means to bind oneself by an oath, usually appealing to a divine witness to the truth of one's statement or the fulfillment of a promise. It underscores the solemnity and potentially grave consequences of the act in Jewish culture.
• by the altar (ἐν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ, en tō thysiastēriō): Refers to the main altar in the Temple compound where sacrifices were offered. It was the consecrated place of propitiation and communion with God, signifying His presence. The Pharisees, by their teaching, degraded the intrinsic sanctity of this holy object.
• it is nothing (οὐδέν ἐστιν, ouden estin): This phrase reveals the Pharisees' judgment, signifying that an oath sworn by the altar alone carried no legal or moral obligation according to their intricate system. It implied such an oath was null and void. This perversion reflected their disdain for the altar's inherent sacredness in favor of perceived material value.
• but whoever swears (ὃς δὲ ὀμόσῃ, hos de omosē): Introduces a stark contrast to the previous clause, highlighting the perverse distinction drawn by the Pharisees.
• by the gift that is on it (ἐν τῷ δώρῳ τῷ ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ, en tō dōrō tō epano autou): "Gift" (δώρα, dōra) refers to the offering (sacrifice, monetary contribution) placed on the altar. The Pharisees assigned greater binding power to an oath sworn by the gift than by the altar itself. This stemmed from the fact that gifts, especially monetary ones, held clear material value and directly benefited the temple economy and potentially the priests, making an oath involving them more "tangible" and thus, to them, more binding.
• he is bound by his oath (ὀφείλει, opheilei): The Greek verb ὀφείλει (opheilei) means "he owes," "he is obliged," "he is bound," or "he is under obligation." This contrasts sharply with "it is nothing." It implies that only by appealing to the valuable "gift" did the oath attain their desired legal and moral force, a deeply flawed spiritual hierarchy.

Words-group Analysis:

• "whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing" vs. "whoever swears by the gift... he is bound by his oath": This parallel structure emphatically presents the Pharisees' inverted logic. Jesus highlights how they reversed the spiritual order, claiming that the secondary (the gift) was superior to and gave power to the primary (the altar). This intellectual dishonesty and spiritual blindness formed the core of Jesus' indictment. Their system placed the human contribution, often with an implied monetary value, above God's consecrated instrument, showcasing a fundamental misunderstanding of holiness and obligation rooted in God's presence rather than material worth.

Matthew 23 18 Bonus section

The Pharisees' casuistry concerning oaths highlights a prevalent human tendency to seek loopholes or create distinctions to evade inconvenient moral or spiritual obligations. Their detailed regulations often focused on measurable acts or monetary value, leading to a superficial righteousness that missed the deeper requirements of a sincere heart, truthfulness, and unwavering fidelity to God's whole counsel. Jesus' exposure of this practice emphasizes that true holiness flows from God, sanctifying His instruments and man's offerings, not the other way around. Therefore, attempts to measure holiness or obligation by human scales or material contributions inevitably lead to spiritual deception and the perversion of divine truth. This principle extends beyond oaths to all areas of Christian life, reminding believers to always prioritize the sacred origin and intention (God's heart) over outward forms or perceived material value.

Matthew 23 18 Commentary

Matthew 23:18 captures Jesus' ongoing indictment of the Pharisees' casuistry, demonstrating how their religious interpretations were spiritually inverted and driven by self-interest. They had developed a complex system of oath distinctions that effectively nullified the sanctity of certain oaths, allowing them to escape obligation. Their teaching implied that swearing by the altar itself was non-binding because, in their view, it was merely an instrument. However, an oath by the gift upon the altar was binding because the gift was a specific, often valuable, item presented to God, suggesting a tangible transaction. Jesus refutes this, emphasizing in the subsequent verse (Matt 23:19) that the altar is greater than the gift because it is the altar that "sanctifies the gift." This profound theological reversal by the Pharisees stemmed from a heart condition: they prioritized external, quantifiable actions (donations/gifts) and the associated human rules or profits over the inherent holiness and presence of God. Their focus on the external allowed for loopholes and manipulative practices, ultimately eroding trust and twisting divine truth for their convenience, thus exposing their spiritual blindness and hypocritical piety. This serves as a warning against religious legalism that neglects the weightier matters of God's heart and values material form over spiritual substance.