Matthew 23:19

"And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated.’"

Key Reflection

In Matthew 23:19, Jesus critiques the Pharisees for their legalistic approach to swearing oaths. According to Jewish tradition, swearing by the altar was less binding than swearing by objects placed on it, such as gifts or sacrifices. By pointing out this discrepancy, Jesus highlights the hypocrisy of those who strictly adhered to superficial religious practices while disregarding genuine faith and integrity.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 19. The altar that sanctifieth the gift. The altar, dedicated to God, gave all the value or holiness to the offering, and must therefore be the greatest, or of the most importance. If, therefore, either bound to the fulfillment of an oath, it must be the altar. {f} "sanctifieth the gift" Ex 29:37; 30:29 __________________________________________________________________

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