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Read the Bible

King James Version

Matthew 5:24

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Charitableness;   Commandments;   Fraternity;   Instruction;   Judaism;   Law;   Reconciliation;   Religion;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Reconciliation;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Altar of Burnt-Offering, the;   Offerings;   Reconciliation with God;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Gifts;   Reconciliation;   Trespass;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Confession;   Covet;   Government;   Reconciliation;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ethics;   Fruit of the Spirit;   Law of Christ;   Legalism;   Offerings and Sacrifices;   Sin;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Love, Brotherly;   Means of Grace;   Quakers;   Reconciliation;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Brother;   Gift;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Reconciliation;   Scribes;   Synagogue;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Altar;   Crimes and Punishments;   Custodian;   Disciples;   Justice;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Persecution in the Bible;   Prayer;   Reconcilation;   Restitution;   Sermon on the Mount;   Word;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Christianity;   Confession;   Ethics;   Law;   Melchizedek;   Mss;   Perfection;   Sin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Altar ;   Anger (2);   Authority of Christ;   Brethren;   Christianity;   Commandments;   Common Life;   Communion (2);   Confession (of Sin);   Fall (2);   Fear ;   Forgiveness (2);   Gospel (2);   Humanity of Christ;   Ideas (Leading);   Indolence;   Inspiration and Revelation;   Intercession ;   Israel, Israelite;   Law of God;   Learning;   Liberality;   Lord's Supper. (I.);   Love (2);   Manliness;   Matthew, Gospel According to;   Offerings;   Perfection (Human);   Physical ;   Reconciliation;   Reconciliation ;   Righteous, Righteousness;   Sacrifice (2);   Sacrifices ;   Temple (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Law of Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Altar;   Atonement;   Reconcile;   Sermon on the Mount, the;   Trespass;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Brother;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for October 25;   Every Day Light - Devotion for February 19;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for December 11;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
King James Version (1611)
Leaue there thy gift before the altar, and goe thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
English Standard Version
leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
New American Standard Bible
leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
New Century Version
leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift.
Amplified Bible
leave your offering there at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Leaue there thine offring before the altar, and goe thy way: first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Legacy Standard Bible
leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Berean Standard Bible
leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Contemporary English Version
leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.
Complete Jewish Bible
leave your gift where it is by the altar, and go, make peace with your brother. Then come back and offer your gift.
Darby Translation
leave there thy gift before the altar, and first go, be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Easy-to-Read Version
Leave your gift there and go make peace with that person. Then come and offer your gift.
George Lamsa Translation
Leave your offering there upon the altar, and first go and make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your offering.
Good News Translation
leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.
Lexham English Bible
leave your gift there before the altar and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your gift.
Literal Translation
leave your gift there before the altar, and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then coming, offer your gift.
American Standard Version
leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Bible in Basic English
While your offering is still before the altar, first go and make peace with your brother, then come and make your offering.
Hebrew Names Version
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
International Standard Version
leave your gift there before the altar and first go and be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift.Job 1:42:8; Matthew 18:19; 1 Timothy 2:8; 1 Peter 3:7;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
leave there thy oblation at the altar, and go, first be reconciled with thy brother, and then come and offer thy oblation.
Murdock Translation
leave there thy oblation before the altar, and go first and be reconciled with thy brother; and then come and present thy oblation.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Leaue there thy gyft, before the aulter, and go thy way, first and be reconciled to thy brother: and then, come and offer thy gyft.
English Revised Version
leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
World English Bible
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Leaving thy gift there before the altar, go; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Weymouth's New Testament
leave your gift there before the altar, and go and make friends with your brother first, and then return and proceed to offer your gift.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
leeue there thi yifte bifor the auter, and go first to be recounselid to thi brothir, and thanne thou schalt come, and schalt offre thi yifte.
Update Bible Version
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Webster's Bible Translation
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
New English Translation
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift.
New King James Version
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
New Living Translation
leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
New Life Bible
leave your gift on the altar. Go and make right what is wrong between you and him. Then come back and give your gift.
New Revised Standard
leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
leave, there, thy gift before the altar, and withdraw, - first, be reconciled unto thy brother, and, then, coming, be offering thy gift.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother, and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.
Revised Standard Version
leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
leue there thyne offrynge before the altre and go thy waye first and be reconcyled to thy brother and then come and offre thy gyfte.
Young's Literal Translation
leave there thy gift before the altar, and go -- first be reconciled to thy brother, and then having come bring thy gift.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
leaue there thyne offrynge before the altare, and go thy waye first, and reconcyle thy selfe to thy brother, & then come and offre thy gyfte.
Mace New Testament (1729)
leave your gift before the altar, go, and first of all reconcile yourself to your brother; then come to offer your gift.
Simplified Cowboy Version
get up and track 'em down and get things right between y'all. Get things straightened out and then come back and offer your prayers.

Contextual Overview

21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

there: Matthew 18:15-17, Job 42:8, Proverbs 25:9, Mark 9:50, Romans 12:17, Romans 12:18, 1 Corinthians 6:7, 1 Corinthians 6:8, 1 Timothy 2:8, James 3:13-18, James 5:16, 1 Peter 3:7, 1 Peter 3:8

and then: Matthew 23:23, 1 Corinthians 11:28

Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:5 - of his trespass offering Numbers 9:10 - yet he shall keep Deuteronomy 26:4 - before the 1 Samuel 15:22 - obey Psalms 26:6 - so will Matthew 5:22 - his brother Matthew 18:19 - That if

Cross-References

Genesis 5:5
And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
Genesis 5:6
And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:
Genesis 5:22
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
Genesis 37:30
And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
Genesis 42:36
And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
2 Kings 2:1
And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Jeremiah 31:15
Thus saith the Lord ; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
Matthew 2:18
In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Luke 23:43
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Leave there thy gift before the altar,.... This might easily be done, and the business soon dispatched, at some seasons; particularly, at their public feasts, as the passover, pentecost, and feast of tabernacles, when all the Israelites were together:

and go thy way; make what haste thou canst,

first be reconciled to thy brother: use all means to reconcile him; acknowledge the offence; ask his pardon; assure him that thou wishest well to him, and not ill;

and then come and offer thy gift, by putting it on the altar, before which it was left. This shows, that acts of love and friendship are preferable to sacrifices; and that sacrifices offered up in wrath, and whilst unreconciled to others, are unacceptable to God, and of no avail: and so much the Jews themselves seem to acknowledge; when they say e:

"that transgressions, which are between a man and God, the day of atonement expiates; the transgressions which are between a man and his neighbour, the day of atonement does not expiate, עד שירצה את חבירו, "until he hath reconciled his neighbour."''

Which is enlarged upon, and explained by Maimonides f, after this manner:

"the day of atonement does not expiate any transgressions, but those that are between a man and God, as when one eats anything that is forbidden, and lies with anything that is forbidden, or the like; but transgressions which are between a man and his neighbour, as he that hurts his neighbour, or curses his neighbour, or steals from him, and the like, are never forgiven, until he has given his neighbour what he owed him, and has "reconciled" him; yea, though he has returned to him the money he owed him, he ought to "reconcile" him, and desire him to forgive him; yea, even though "he has only provoked him by words", (which is the very case in the text before us,) לפייסו

צריך, "he ought to reconcile him", and to meet him until he forgives him: if his neighbour will not forgive, he must bring with him three of his friends, and meet him, and entreat him; and if he will not be reconciled by them, he must bring them a second, and a third time.''

So that he was to use all means to obtain a reconciliation.

e Misn. Yoma, c. 8. sect. 9. f Hilchot Teshuba, c. 2. sect. 9. Vid. T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 87. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar ... - The Pharisees were intent only on the external act in worship. They looked not at all to the internal state of the mind. If a man conformed to the external rites of religion, however much envy, and malice, and secret hatred he might have, they thought he was doing well. Our Saviour taught a different doctrine. It was of more consequence to have the heart right than to perform the outward act. If, therefore, says he, a man has gone so far as to bring his gift to the very altar, and should remember that anyone had anything against him, it was his duty there to leave his offering and go and be reconciled. While a difference of this nature existed, his offering could not be acceptable. He was not to wait until the offended brother should come to him; he was to go and seek him out, and be reconciled. So now the worship of God will not be acceptable, however well performed externally, until we are at peace with those that we have injured. “To obey is better than sacrifice,” 1 Samuel 15:22. He that comes to worship his Maker filled with malice, and hatred, and envy, and at war with his brethren, is a hypocritical worshipper, and must meet with God’s displeasure. God is not deceived, and he will not be mocked.

Thy gift - Thy sacrifice. What thou art about to devote to God as an offering.

To the altar - The altar was situated in front of the temple, and was the place on which sacrifices were made. See the notes on plan, Matthew 21:12. To bring a gift to the altar was expressive of worshipping God, for this was the way in which he was formerly worshipped.

Thy brother - Any man, especially any fellow-worshipper. Anyone of the same religious society.

Hath aught - Is offended, or thinks he has been injured by you in any manner.

First be reconciled - This means to settle the difficulty; to make proper acknowledgment or satisfaction for the injury. If you have wronged him, make restitution. If you owe him a debt which ought to be paid, pay it. If you have injured his character, confess it and seek pardon. If he is under an erroneous impression, if your conduct has been such as to lead him to suspect that you have injured him, make an explanation. Do all in your power; and all you ought to do, to have the matter settled. From this we learn:

  1. That, in order to worship God acceptably, we must do justice to our fellow-men.
  2. Our worship will not be acceptable unless we do all we can to live peaceably with others.
  3. It is our duty to seek reconciliation with others when we have injured them.
  4. This should be done before we attempt to worship God.
  5. This is often the reason why God does not accept our offerings, and we go empty away from our devotions. We do not do what we ought to others; we cherish improper feelings or refuse to make proper acknowledgments, and God will not accept such attempts to worship him.



Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 5:24. Leave there thy gift before the altar — This is as much as to say, "Do not attempt to bring any offering to God while thou art in a spirit of enmity against any person; or hast any difference with thy neighbour, which thou hast not used thy diligence to get adjusted." It is our duty and interest, both to bring our gift, and offer it too; but God will not accept of any act of religious worship from us, while any enmity subsists in our hearts towards any soul of man; or while any subsists in our neighbour's heart towards us, which we have not used the proper means to remove. A religion, the very essence of which is love, cannot suffer at its altars a heart that is revengeful and uncharitable, or which does not use its utmost endeavours to revive love in the heart of another. The original word, δωρον, which we translate gift, is used by the rabbins in Hebrew letters דורון doron, which signifies not only a gift, but a sacrifice offered to God. See several proofs in Schoettgen.

Then come and offer thy gift.Then, when either thy brother is reconciled to thee, or thou hast done all in thy power to effect this reconciliation. My own obstinacy and uncharitableness must render me utterly unfit to receive any good from God's hands, or to worship him in an acceptable manner; bat the wickedness of another can be no hinderance to me, when I have endeavoured earnestly to get it removed, though without effect.


 
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