Matthew 23:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

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.

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.

The altar, as mentioned in the Church Slavonic text, signifies the place where the offerings to be presented were sacrificed.

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.

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.

The act of twisting the law through clever interpretations is the fourth issue at hand.

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 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).

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!