Matthew 23:19

Matthew 23:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
• New International Version (NIV)You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
• English Standard Version (ESV)You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

Context of Matthew 23:19

17This shows that you are fools. You do not understand what is true. Think about which of these is more important. Is it the gold things in the temple? Or is it the temple itself? It is the temple that makes the gold things special. 18You also say to people, “You may make a promise by the altar in the temple. Then it is not a serious promise. You do not have to do it. But you may also make a promise by the gifts on that altar. Then it is a serious promise and you must do it.” You are people who cannot understand what is true. Think about which of these things is more important. Is it the gifts on the altar? Or is it the altar itself? It is the altar that makes the gifts special. 20Remember this: Somebody may make a promise by the name of the altar. Then he is making a promise by God's name. The altar as well as all the gifts on it are special to God. 21Also, somebody may make a promise by the name of the temple. Then he is making a promise in the name of God, who lives there.

Matthew 23:19 word by word

τυφλοί, τί γὰρ μεῖζον, τὸ δῶρον ἢ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ ἁγιάζον τὸ δῶρον;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• foolsμωρόςmōros · foolishG3474
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• blindτυφλόςtuphlos · blindG5185
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• whetherτίςtis · which?G5101
• greaterμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• the giftδῶρονdōron · giftG1435
• orἤē · orG2228
• the altarθυσιαστήριονthusiastērion · altarG2379
• that sanctifiethἁγιάζωhagiazō · to sanctifyG37

Cross-references for Matthew 23:19

• Exodus 29:37Do this to the altar for seven days to make it pure. Then it will be completely holy. Anything that touches the altar will become holy too.
• Exodus 30:29You must make all these things special for me. They will be very holy things. Anything that touches them will also become holy.

Commentaries on Matthew 23:19

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19The altar that sanctifieth the gift - The altar, dedicated to God, gave all the value or holiness to the offering, and must therefore be the greatest or of the most importance. If, therefore, either bound to the fulfillment of an oath, it must be the altar.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-33Verses 13-33 The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to the gospel of Christ, and therefore to the salvation of the souls of men. It is bad to keep away from Christ ourselves, but worse also to keep others from him. Yet it is no new thing for the show and form of godliness to be made a cloak to the greatest enormities. But dissembled piety will be reckoned double iniquity. They were very busy to turn souls to be of their party. Not for the glory of God and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-22The religious leaders said that some oaths were less binding, and this allowed them to deceive people. But Jesus called for honesty and for keeping every commitment (see Matthew 5:33–37).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. Ye fools, and blind! for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?--(See Ex 29:37).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 23:19

• Altar
• Blindness
• Church
• Ecclesiasticism
• Hypocrisy
• Oath
• Pharisees
• Satire
• Teachers
• Temple

In the dictionaries

• Abase
• Bewray
• Devour
• Exalt
• Fill
• Gnat
• Ought
• Partaker
• Scribes
• Sit

Commentaries on Matthew 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings