Matthew 23:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus draws the conclusion: to swear by the altar is to swear by everything on it, so no oath can be evaded.
What Does Matthew 23:20 Mean?
Having corrected their false rankings, Jesus now states the truth plainly. An oath by the altar includes everything resting upon it; the two cannot be separated to create an escape clause. There is no swearing by the lesser to dodge responsibility for the greater.
Jesus is closing every loophole the system had opened. A vow is a vow, and it binds the whole person before God. This restores integrity to speech: words spoken in God's hearing carry their full weight, with no fine print. The follower of Christ is freed from the burden of clever evasions by simply meaning what is said. Honesty, not technicality, is what God requires and what brings peace to the soul.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 23:20
What does Matthew 23:20 mean?
Jesus draws the conclusion: to swear by the altar is to swear by everything on it, so no oath can be evaded.