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Explanation for:
Matthew
23
:
18
And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, is a debtor.
9
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Conversely, when someone swore by the altar, it was widely accepted that he did not bear guilt for making an oath. In contrast, should he swear by the offerings or gifts, including animals and various sacrifices presented to God at the altar, there was a strict insistence on accountability for those commitments."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In a similar vein, they remarked that the offerings presented upon the altar are of greater significance than the altar itself. Consequently, the Pharisees taught that anyone who made an oath by a golden vessel, or by an ox or a sheep that had been offered, and subsequently violated that oath, was required to compensate for the value of what was sworn. They esteemed the offering above the altar due to the advantages gained from the sacrifices. However, if a person swore by the temple and then failed to uphold the oath, they could not produce anything that matched the sanctity of the temple, thus they were released from their commitment. Hence, due to the self-serving nature of the Pharisees, an oath made by the temple was deemed less important."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The altar, as mentioned in the Church Slavonic text, signifies the place where the offerings to be presented were sacrificed."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The altar dedicated to sacrifice, also known as the altar of burnt offerings, was located in the temple's courtyard where various offerings were made (refer to Matthew 21:12). Constructed from uncut stones, it was a four-sided structure, measuring approximately 10 fathoms in length and width at its base, and about 10 arshins in height. On this altar, both sacrifices and burnt offerings were presented (see Matthew 5:23). \\n\\nRegarding the phrase \\"that nothing,\\" consult the commentary on Matthew 23:16. The term \\"obedient\\" reflects the perspective of the Pharisees, which held that anyone who swore by a golden vessel, an ox, or a sheep set aside for sacrifice, and subsequently broke that vow, was obligated to bring to the temple the item they swore by; they valued this gift over the altar due to the perceived benefits associated with sacrifices. Conversely, if someone swore by the temple and later violated that oath, they were released from their promise, as creating anything comparable to the temple was beyond their capacity; thus, an oath made by the temple lost its significance, influenced by the greed of the Pharisees (Theophilus)."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"You assert that if someone makes an oath by the offering upon which sacrifices and burnt offerings are made, it holds no significance; however, if anyone takes an oath by the gift that rests upon him, meaning by the offering that is upon him, then that individual is accountable and required to bring to the temple the offering he has sworn by, whether it be an ox, a sheep, or another type of sacrifice."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Woe to you, misguided leaders, who aspire to guide others toward the Kingdom of Heaven while being unable to discern between the authentic and the counterfeit path due to your spiritual blindness! In your ignorance, you instruct the masses that they may disregard their vows without consequence, merely selecting which oaths can be set aside for such ends. You deceive yourself into believing that swearing by the temple and its altar allows for a casual commitment, as honoring such an oath seems optional; meanwhile, you insist that those who invoke the golden vessels and sacred offerings of the temple must uphold their promises. Oh, foolish and deluded leaders! The temple holds greater sanctity than the gold it contains, as the gold derives its holiness from the temple itself; similarly, the altar, which sanctifies the offering placed upon it, is more significant than the offering itself. How can you fail to see that swearing by the altar encompasses all that is upon it, and that invoking the temple includes not just the gold within it but also God, who dwells unseen there? Just as one who swears by heaven also acknowledges its all-present Creator. The blessed Theophylact teaches that anyone who swears by a golden vessel or a sacrificial animal, and then breaks that oath, must present to the temple what was sworn; yet the Pharisees chose gold and offerings above the temple for their own gain. Since they could not demand restitution from one who swore by the temple and broke their oath, as there was no profit to be gained from such an infraction, they permitted the violation of these oaths."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The fourth woe addresses the issue of spiritual blindness and the distortion of the true significance of oaths. The scribes and Pharisees, having permitted oaths made on created objects—such as heaven, earth, the sun, Jerusalem, and the temple—categorized them into major and minor oaths. For their own gain, they prioritized oaths concerning temple treasures and sacrificial offerings as highly significant and unbreakable. Jesus Christ previously highlighted how these misinterpretations led them to elevate sacrificial vows above God’s immutable command to honor one’s father and mother (Matthew 15:4-6). At this moment, He forcefully condemned the deliberate foolishness of the blind leaders of the people’s conscience, saying: Woe unto you, blind guides! You claim that whoever swears by the church is released, whereas whoever swears by the gold of the church is bound. You blind men, which is greater: the gold, or the church that sanctifies the gold? Also, you say that whoever swears by the altar is nothing, but whoever swears by the gift on it is obligated. You blind men, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? According to the teaching of the Pharisees, blessed Theophylact explains, one who swore by a golden vessel or an animal designated for sacrifice and then broke that oath was required to offer what they swore by to the temple; they chose the gift over the altar for their perceived profit from the sacrifices. The heart of an oath lies in invoking the omniscient and omnipresent God as witness to the truth. Thus, restoring the meaning of an oath, the Lord stated: If anyone swears by the altar, he swears by it and by Him who is upon it; if anyone swears by the church, he swears by it and by Him who resides therein; if anyone swears by heaven, he swears by the Throne of God and by Him who sits upon it."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The act of twisting the law through clever interpretations is the fourth issue at hand."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Following these events, the Lord departed from the temple, issuing a stern condemnation of the Pharisees and the temple priests who had contributed to the moral decay of the people, coupled with warnings of impending divine judgment. Concluding His earthly mission, He proclaimed that He would continue to work among them through His messengers; however, the Pharisees would also oppress these emissaries, just as they had persecuted previous witnesses of the truth. By doing so, they would increase the measure of their forefathers' transgressions, leading to the unveiling of God's judgment upon the sinfulness of Jerusalem."}]}
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