Mateo 5:23

23 Por tanto, si estás presentando tu ofrenda en el altar, y allí te acuerdas que tu hermano tiene algo contra ti,

Mateo 5:23 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 5:23

Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar
The Jews obliged such who had done any damage to their neighbours, by stealing from them, to make satisfaction before they brought their offering; concerning which they say F3,

``he that brings what he has stolen, before he brings his trespass offering, is right; he that brings his trespass offering, before he brings that which he has stolen, is not right.''

Again F4,

``they do not bring the trespass offering before the sum of what is stolen is returned, either to the owners, or to the priests.''

Some have thought Christ refers to this; only what they restrained to pecuniary damages, he extends to all sorts of offences. But not a trespass offering, but a freewill offering, seems to be designed by "the gift": which, when a man either intended to bring, or was going to bring, or had already brought, as a voluntary sacrifice to be offered unto God; and it came into his mind, that he had offended any man by showing any undue passion, or by any reproachful words, then he was to do what is advised in the following verse: "and there", whilst going, or when at the altar,

rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee:
hath anything to charge thee with; any just ground of complaint against thee; if thou hast done him any injury, or given him any offence: particularly, if he had at any time said Raca to him, or called him "fool" for those words have reference to what goes before, and are a corollary, or conclusion from them, as appears from the causal particle "therefore".


FOOTNOTES:

F3 Misn. Bava Kama, c. 9. sect. 12.
F4 Maimon. Hilch. Gezela, c. 8. sect. 13.

Mateo 5:23 In-Context

21 Habéis oído que se dijo a los antepasados: "NO MATARAS" y: "Cualquiera que cometa homicidio será culpable ante la corte."
22 Pero yo os digo que todo aquel que esté enojado con su hermano será culpable ante la corte; y cualquiera que diga: "Raca " a su hermano, será culpable delante de la corte suprema ; y cualquiera que diga: "Idiota", será reo del infierno de fuego.
23 Por tanto, si estás presentando tu ofrenda en el altar, y allí te acuerdas que tu hermano tiene algo contra ti,
24 deja tu ofrenda allí delante del altar, y ve, reconcíliate primero con tu hermano, y entonces ven y presenta tu ofrenda.
25 Reconcíliate pronto con tu adversario mientras vas con él por el camino, no sea que tu adversario te entregue al juez, y el juez al alguacil, y seas echado en la cárcel.
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