Matthew 5:23

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible

If, therefore, thou be bearing thy gift towards the altar, and, there, shouldst remember that, thy brother, hath aught against thee,

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

King James Version (1611)
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee:

King James Version
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

English Standard Version
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

New American Standard Bible
"Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you,

New Century Version
"So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

Amplified Bible
"So if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and while there you remember that your brother has something [such as a grievance or legitimate complaint] against you,

Geneva Bible (1587)
If then thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Contemporary English Version
So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you,

Complete Jewish Bible
So if you are offering your gift at the Temple altar and you remember there that your brother has something against you,

Darby Translation
If therefore thou shouldest offer thy gift at the altar, and there shouldest remember that thy brother has something against thee,

Easy-to-Read Version
"So, what if you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that someone has something against you?

George Lamsa Translation
If it should happen therefore that while you are presenting your offering upon the altar, and right there you remember that your brother has any grievance against you,

Good News Translation
So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you,

Lexham English Bible
Therefore if you present your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Literal Translation
Then if you offer your gift on the altar, and remember there that your brother has something against you,

American Standard Version
If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,

Bible in Basic English
If then you are making an offering at the altar and there it comes to your mind that your brother has something against you,

Hebrew Names Version
"If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

International Standard Version
"So if you are presenting your gift at the altar and remember there that your brother has something against you,Matthew 8:4; 23:19;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
If it occur, therefore, that thou bring thy oblation to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother retaineth some enmity against thee;

Murdock Translation
If therefore thou shalt bring thy oblation to the altar, and shalt there remember that thy brother hath any offence against thee,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Therfore, if thou bring thy gyft to the aulter, and there remembrest, that thy brother hath ought agaynst thee:

English Revised Version
If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,

World English Bible
If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember, that thy brother hath ought against thee,

Weymouth's New Testament
If therefore when you are offering your gift upon the altar, you remember that your brother has a grievance against you,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor if thou offrist thi yifte `at the auter, and ther thou bithenkist, that thi brothir hath sum what ayens thee,

Update Bible Version
If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore if thou shalt bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath aught against thee;

New English Translation
So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

New King James Version
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

New Living Translation
"So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,

New Life Bible
If you take your gift to the altar and remember your brother has something against you,

New Revised Standard
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

Douay-Rheims Bible
If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee;

Revised Standard Version
So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Therfore whe thou offrest thy gifte at the altare and their remembrest that thy brother hath ought agaynst the:

Young's Literal Translation
`If, therefore, thou mayest bring thy gift to the altar, and there mayest remember that thy brother hath anything against thee,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore when thou offrest thy gift at the altare, and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought agaynst the:

Mace New Testament (1729)
When therefore you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has reason to be displeas'd with you:

THE MESSAGE
"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.

Simplified Cowboy Version
"If you're gonna grab a knee and worship God and you realize your brother or amigo is mad at ya,

Contextual Overview

²¹ Ye have heard, that it was said, to them of olden time, - Thou shalt not commit murder, and, whosoever shall commit murder, shall be, liable, to judgment. ²² But, I, say unto you, that, every one who is angry with his brother, shall be, liable, to judgment, - and, whosoever shall say to his brother, Worthless one!, shall be, liable, to the high council; and, whosoever shall say, Rebel!, shall be, liable, unto the fiery gehenna. ²³ If, therefore, thou be bearing thy gift towards the altar, and, there, shouldst remember that, thy brother, hath aught against thee, ²⁴ leave, there, thy gift before the altar, and withdraw, - first, be reconciled unto thy brother, and, then, coming, be offering thy gift. ²⁵ Be making agreement with thine adversary, quickly, while thou art with him, in the way, - lest once thine adversary deliver thee up unto the judge, and the judge, unto the officer, and, into prison, thou be cast. ²⁶ Verily, I say unto thee, In nowise, mayest thou come out from thence, until thou pay the last halfpenny.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

thou: Matthew 8:4, Matthew 23:19, Deuteronomy 16:16, Deuteronomy 16:17, 1 Samuel 15:22, Isaiah 1:10-17, Hosea 6:6, Amos 5:21-24

rememberest: Genesis 41:9, Genesis 42:21, Genesis 42:22, Genesis 50:15-17, Leviticus 6:2-6, 1 Kings 2:44, Lamentations 3:20, Ezekiel 16:63, Luke 19:8

Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:5 - of his trespass offering Deuteronomy 26:4 - before the Job 42:8 - go Psalms 4:5 - Offer Psalms 26:6 - so will Matthew 5:22 - his brother Luke 12:58 - thou goest 1 Corinthians 11:28 - and so 1 Peter 3:7 - that

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 c,

"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 d,

"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".

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

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 5:23. Therefore if thou bring thy gift — Evil must be nipped in the bud. An unkind thought of another may be the foundation of that which leads to actual murder. A Christian, properly speaking, cannot be an enemy to any man; nor is he to consider any man his enemy, without the fullest evidence: for surmises to the prejudice of another can never rest in the bosom of him who has the love of God in his heart, for to him all men are brethren. He sees all men as children of God, and members of Christ, or at least capable of becoming such. If a tender forgiving spirit was required, even in a Jew, when he approached God's altar with a bullock or a lamb, how much more necessary is this in a man who professes to be a follower of the Lamb of God; especially when he receives the symbols of that Sacrifice which was offered for the life of the world, in what is commonly called the sacrament of the Lord's supper!