Matthew Chapter 23 verse 18 Holy Bible
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.
read chapter 23 in ASV
And, Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the offering which is on it, he is responsible.
read chapter 23 in BBE
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it is a debtor.
read chapter 23 in DARBY
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
read chapter 23 in KJV
read chapter 23 in WBT
'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obligated.'
read chapter 23 in WEB
`And, whoever may swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever may swear by the gift that is upon it -- is debtor!
read chapter 23 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 18. - By the altar. The great altar of burnt offerings, according to the Mosaic ritual, was consecrated and dedicated with most remarkable solemnities, as the centre of sacrificial worship (see Exodus 29:36, etc.; Exodus 30:28,29; Numbers 7:10, etc.). The gift that is upon it. The victim, which, as being offered by themselves, was counted more worthy than the altar of God which sanctified the gift. This is, indeed, an instance of sight blinded by self-righteousness. He is guilty; ὀφείλει: he is a debtor, as ver. 16. Others see here the principle that the validity of oaths was differentiated by the nearness to the Person of God of the things by which they were taken. This, too, opened up large opportunities of evasion.
