Matthew 23:18

18 And what about this piece of trivia: 'If you shake hands on a promise, that's nothing; but if you raise your hand that God is your witness, that's serious'?

Matthew 23:18 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:18

And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing
These are again the words or savings of the scribes and Pharisees, and express their sentiments and practice: it was usual with them to swear by the altar; and this was reckoned either no sin at all, or such an oath was not accounted binding on a man; he might break, or keep it as he thought fit: of this kind of swearing, we have the following instances. One said to another ^F18,

``swear to me that thou wilt not discover me, and he swore to him; by what did he swear? says R. Jose bar Chanina, (ymynph xbzmb) , "by the innermost altar".''

Again, it is said of Zedekiah ^F19,

``that he (Nebuchadnezzar) made him to swear; by what did he make him to swear? says R. Jose, by the covenant he made him to swear; Rabbi says (xbzmb) , "by the altar" he made him to swear.''

And elsewhere ^F20 it is said of him,

``"and he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who made him swear by God", ( 2 Chronicles 36:13 ) . By what did he make him swear? says R. Jose bar Chanina, "by the horns of the innermost altar" he made him swear.''

But whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty:
of perjury, if he does not make good his oath; he is bound to perform it, it is obligatory; whatever he swore should be a gift for the altar, he was indispensably obliged to bring it; for whatever he swore by "Korban", or the gift, could never be put to any other use.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F18 Echa Rabbati, fol. 54. 1.
F19 Midrash Kohelet, fol. 78. 1.
F20 Midrash Megillat Esther, fol. 89. 1.

Matthew 23:18 In-Context

16 "You're hopeless! What arrogant stupidity! You say, 'If someone makes a promise with his fingers crossed, that's nothing; but if he swears with his hand on the Bible, that's serious.'

17 What ignorance! Does the leather on the Bible carry more weight than the skin on your hands?

18 And what about this piece of trivia: 'If you shake hands on a promise, that's nothing; but if you raise your hand that God is your witness, that's serious'?

19 What ridiculous hairsplitting! What difference does it make whether you shake hands or raise hands

20 A promise is a promise. What difference does it make if you make your promise inside or outside a house of worship? A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless.