Mateo 23:20

20 Cuando juran “por el altar”, juran por el altar y por todo lo que hay encima.

Mateo 23:20 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:20

Whosoever therefore shall swear by the altar,
&c.] Not that Christ allowed of swearing by the altar, or by the temple, or by heaven, or by any creature, animate or inanimate; for such swearing is elsewhere disapproved of by him, and forbid, but if a man did swear by the altar, he ought to know, and consider that he not only

sweareth by it,
but by all the gifts, and offerings that are brought, and laid upon it,

and by all things thereon;
whatever gifts and sacrifices are offered upon it; which, by being put there, become holy, as the altar itself: so that he that swears by the altar, swears also by the gifts of the altar; and consequently, according to their own traditions, such oaths must be binding.

Mateo 23:20 In-Context

18 Y dicen que jurar “por el altar” no impone una obligación, pero jurar “por las ofrendas que están sobre el altar” sí la impone.

19 ¡Qué ciegos son! Pues, ¿qué es más importante, la ofrenda sobre el altar o el altar que hace que la ofrenda sea sagrada?

20 Cuando juran “por el altar”, juran por el altar y por todo lo que hay encima.

21 Cuando juran “por el templo”, no solo juran por el templo sino por Dios, quien vive allí.

22 Y cuando juran “por el cielo”, juran por el trono y por Dios, quien se sienta en el trono.