unfoldingWord_en_tn/mat/23/18.md

# And

The understood information can be made clear. AT: "And you also say" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis]])

# it is nothing

"he does not have to do what he has sworn to do" or "he does not have to keep his oath"

# the gift

This is an animal or grain that a person would bring to God by putting it on God's altar.

# is bound to his oath

"is tied to his oath." Being required to do what one has said he would do in an oath is spoken of as if he is tied to the oath. AT: "must do what he promised to do" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# blind people

The Jewish leaders were spiritually blind. Although they thought of themselves as teachers, they were unable to understand God's truth. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# Which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?

Jesus uses this question to rebuke the Pharisees for treating the gift as if it were more important than the altar. AT: "The altar that makes the gift holy is greater than the gift!" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

# the altar that makes the gift holy

"the altar that makes the gift special to God"

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/oath]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/altar]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/gift]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/bond]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/holy]]