Matthew 23:19
What does Matthew 23:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 23:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 23:19 means
Jesus again condemns the Pharisees as "blind" for their confused understanding of oaths, challenging their logic once more. He asks which is greater: the gift on the altar, or the altar which makes the gift sacred. The obvious answer is the altar. Their prioritization of the gift reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of holiness and underscores their spiritual inability to discern what truly carries divine weight. This exposes their false teachings that lead people away from spiritual truth.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949You blind ones: which is greater, the offering, or the altar which makes the offering holy?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Fools and blind! for which <FI>is<Fi> greater, the gift, or the altar that is sanctifying the gift?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Ye foolish and blind: for whether is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890[Fools and] blind ones, for which is greater, the gift, or the altar which sanctifies the gift?
Context
This verse directly refutes the distorted teaching presented in the preceding verse concerning oaths by the altar and its gift. Just as with the temple and its gold, Jesus uses a rhetorical question to expose the deep spiritual blindness of the Pharisees' reasoning. This serves as a concluding logical point for their specific examples, paving the way for Jesus to articulate the true and comprehensive nature of all oaths in the verses immediately following, thereby clarifying God's expectation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 29:37
Seven days thou shalt make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it: and the altar shall be most holy; whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.
- Exodus 30:29
And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.
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