Matthew 23:19 Meaning and Explanation
“Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus again corrects the order: the altar is greater than the gift, for it is the altar that makes the gift holy.
What Does Matthew 23:19 Mean?
Repeating the structure of his earlier rebuke, Jesus shows that the altar, set apart to God, is what gives the offering its sacredness. The gift becomes holy by being placed on the altar; without it, the gift is only an object. The greater thing makes the lesser holy.
The repetition is deliberate, hammering home a principle the leaders kept missing: holiness flows from God outward, never from the value of things inward. To honor God rightly is to see this order and live by it. Jesus is teaching that reverence begins with knowing what truly makes life sacred, the presence and claim of God upon it, so that every gift we bring is offered to him with a whole and honest heart.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 23:19
What does Matthew 23:19 mean?
Jesus again corrects the order: the altar is greater than the gift, for it is the altar that makes the gift holy.