Matthew 5:23

Matthew 5:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
• New International Version (NIV)“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
• New Living Translation (NLT)“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,

Context of Matthew 5:23

21"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

Matthew 5:23 word by word

Ἐὰν οὖν προσφέρῃς τὸ δῶρόν σου ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον κἀκεῖ μνησθῇς ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἔχει τι κατὰ σοῦ,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• thou bringπροσφέρωprospherō · to bring toG4374
• thyσύsu · youG4771
• giftὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• giftδῶρονdōron · giftG1435
• toἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the altarθυσιαστήριονthusiastērion · altarG2379
• and thereκἀκεῖkakei · and thereG2546
• rememberestμιμνήσκωmimnēskō · to rememberG3403
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• brotherἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• hathἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• oughtτιςtis · oneG5100
• againstκατάkata · according toG2596

Cross-references for Matthew 5:23

• Matthew 8:4And Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them."
• Matthew 23:19You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
• Deuteronomy 16:16"Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.
• 1 Samuel 15:22And Samuel said, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
• Isaiah 1:10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
• Hosea 6:6For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
• Amos 5:21"I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
• Genesis 41:9Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "I remember my offenses today.
• Genesis 42:21Then they said to one another, "In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."
• Genesis 50:15When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him."
• Leviticus 6:2"If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor
• 1 Kings 2:44The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your own heart all the harm that you did to David my father. So the Lord will bring back your harm on your own head.
• Lamentations 3:20My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.
• Ezekiel 16:63that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God."
• Luke 19:8And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold."

Commentaries on Matthew 5:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Therefore if thou bring thy gift - Evil must be nipped in the bud. An unkind thought of another may be the foundation of that which leads to actual murder. A Christian, properly speaking, cannot be an enemy to any man; nor is he to consider any man his enemy, without the fullest evidence: for surmises to the prejudice of another can never rest in the bosom of him who has the love of God in his heart, for to him all men are brethren. He sees all men as…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar … - The Pharisees were intent only on the external act in worship. They looked not at all to the internal state of the mind. If a man conformed to the external rites of religion, however much envy, and malice, and secret hatred he might have, they thought he was doing well. Our Saviour taught a different doctrine. It was of more consequence to have the heart right than to perform the outward act. If…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-26Verses 21-26 The Jewish teachers had taught, that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth commandment. Thus they explained away its spiritual meaning. Christ showed the full meaning of this commandment; according to which we must be judged hereafter, and therefore ought to be ruled now. All rash anger is heart murder. By our brother, here, we are to understand any person, though ever so much below us, for we are all made of one blood…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-26Jesus provides two examples of making peace in communities and society.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Therefore--to apply the foregoing, and show its paramount importance. if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught--of just complaint "against thee."Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 5:23

• Charitableness
• Commandments
• Fraternity
• Instruction
• Judaism
• Justice
• Law
• Reconciliation
• Religion
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Agree
• Brother
• Communication
• Despitefully
• Enemy
• Fornication
• Forswear
• Gift
• Hunger
• Inherit

Commentaries on Matthew 5

• 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