Matthew 23:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus names a second false oath distinction: swearing by the gift on the altar binds, but swearing by the altar does not.
What Does Matthew 23:18 Mean?
Parallel to the earlier example, this oath-rule treated a vow made by the altar as empty, while a vow made by the offering laid upon it was binding. Again the lesser object, the gift, was ranked above the greater, the altar on which it rested.
Jesus is showing a pattern of misplaced values that runs through their teaching. The mind that sorts holy things by their market worth has lost the thread of what makes anything holy at all. For the follower of Christ, the remedy is not more rules but a heart rightly oriented toward God. When God is honored above all, the tangled web of evasions falls away, and simple truthfulness takes its place.
Matthew 23:18 in the Original Language
thysiasterion (θυσιαστήριον), 'altar' -- the place of sacrifice where offerings were presented to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 23:18
What does Matthew 23:18 mean?
Jesus names a second false oath distinction: swearing by the gift on the altar binds, but swearing by the altar does not.