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You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
Verse Takeaways
1
The Altar Sanctifies the Gift
Jesus calls the Pharisees "blind" for their illogical teaching. Commentators explain that the Pharisees claimed an oath by a gift on the altar was more binding than an oath by the altar itself. Jesus points out the simple truth: the altar, dedicated to God, is what makes the gift holy. Therefore, the altar is greater, exposing how their priorities were completely backward.
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Matthew
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6
18th Century
Presbyterian
The altar that sanctifieth the gift. The altar, dedicated to God, gave all the value or holiness to the offering, and must therefore be th…
19th Century
Baptist
The form of the fourth “woe” differs from all the rest. In the other seven, our Savior said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”…
See comments on 5:33–37 and 15:14 for the background and thrust of these verses. While it may be true that the rabbis fought the abuses of oaths an…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
You fools, and blind This is very justly repeated, since this is no less an instance of their folly, blindness, and …
The scribes and Pharisees were enemies of the gospel of Christ, and therefore of the salvation of people's souls. It is bad to keep away from Chris…
13th Century
Catholic
After He instructed the disciples and the multitudes about the caution they should have regarding the Jews' doctrine, He now directs His words to t…
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