Matthew 23:18
And whosoeuer shall sweare by the Altar, it is nothing: but whosoeuer sweareth by the gift that is vpon it, he is guiltie. Matthew 23:18 (KJV)
In this verse Jesus addresses the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of His day, reproaching them for their hypocritical attitudes and practices. He invites us to explore the context and significance of this saying within the larger passage of Matthew 23.
Matthew 23 contains Jesus’ extensive rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, commonly known as the “Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees.” In these chapters He denounces their hypocrisy, self‑righteousness, and the heavy burdens they place on the people while neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
In verse 16 Jesus says, “Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!” This highlights the Pharisees’ erroneous distinction between swearing by the temple itself and swearing by the gold of the temple. They taught that an oath by the temple had no binding significance, yet an oath by the gold required fulfillment—an example of focusing on superficial matters rather than the true intent of oaths.
Verse 18 continues the same line of criticism: “And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.” Here Jesus exposes another inconsistency. The teachers claimed that an oath made on the altar carried no obligation, while an oath on the gift placed upon the altar did. Both the altar and the gift are integral to temple worship, and by drawing such a distinction they disregard the sacredness of the altar itself.
Jesus’ point is that the scribes and Pharisees were placing undue importance on external objects associated with worship while neglecting the deeper spiritual significance and reverence due to God’s presence. Their concern for outward appearances eclipsed the internal transformation of the heart that the law truly demands.
This verse therefore reflects the broader message of Matthew 23: the religious elite were meticulous about minor details of the law yet ignored justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus challenges them—and us—to focus on the weightier matters of the law and to cultivate genuine righteousness rather than becoming entangled in trivial distinctions.
In summary, Matthew 23:18 underscores Jesus’ criticism of the scribes and Pharisees for their inconsistent teachings on oaths. By contrasting swearing by the altar with swearing by the gift on the altar, He reveals a superficial understanding of spiritual matters and calls believers to sincere devotion to God, free from empty ritualism.
