What is the meaning of Matthew 23:18? And you say Jesus repeats the leaders’ own teaching to expose it. Earlier He had told them, “Woe to you, blind guides! You say…” (Matthew 23:16-17). By echoing their words He holds them to account for inventing a loophole that contradicts “You shall not swear falsely by My name” (Leviticus 19:12). • Highlights the danger of elevating tradition over Scripture (Mark 7:13). • Shows that teachers will answer for what they authorize (James 3:1). • Frames the whole exchange as a warning against religious double-talk (Isaiah 29:13). If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing The altar represented atonement and God’s presence (Exodus 29:37; Hebrews 13:10). Calling an oath by it “nothing” stripped away reverence. • Violates “You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him” (Deuteronomy 6:13). • Encourages casual promises—exactly what Jesus forbade in Matthew 5:34-35. • Proves spiritual blindness, because “the altar sanctifies the gift” (Matthew 23:19). but if anyone swears by the gift on it The “gift” is the sacrifice placed on the altar. The leaders claimed its material value made the oath binding. • Reverses God’s order: in Exodus 30:29 the altar makes the offering holy, not vice versa. • Reveals materialism; value was tied to visible expense, not to God (Malachi 1:7-8). • Mirrors the “Corban” loophole that excused neglect of parents (Mark 7:11-13). he is bound by his oath Selective honesty lets people appear devout while dodging responsibility. Jesus exposes it as hypocrisy. • Every vow is binding: “He must not break his word” (Numbers 30:2; Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). • James echoes the same standard: “Let your ‘Yes’ be yes” (James 5:12). • God judges “every careless word” (Matthew 12:36), so ranking oaths is futile. summary Matthew 23:18 records Jesus quoting a Pharisaic rule that made oaths by the altar optional but oaths by the sacrificial gift mandatory. By reversing what God had established, they valued material offerings over the holy God who sanctifies them. Jesus’ reply calls His followers to straightforward, wholehearted truthfulness: every promise matters because every word is spoken before Him. |
    |