The Greek is "if therefore" or "when therefore".

• "εαν" ≈ "if, when".
• "οὔν" ≈ "therefore".

English has a distinction between "if" and "when" whereas in logic, they both express the same idea.

• If it happens ...
• When it happens ...



More: Saying when does not mean completion

The Greek translated as "bring" is that of "offering" or, literally, "carry to". The ancient Greek word "προσφέρω" ≈ "bring to or upon, apply to, lay upon".

The Greek translated as "to" is that of "on" or "onto". The ancient Greek prefix "επι" ≈ "on" as in the English word "epicenter" which is, literally, "on the center".

That is, you are "carrying to (offer)" your "gift" "on" the "altar".

Paraphrase: if therefore you shall offer (carry forward) your gift on (onto) the altar ...

The modern Greek word "προσφέρω" (pro-SFEH-ro) ≈ "offer".

The ancient Greek word "προσφέρω" ≈ "bring to or upon, apply to, lay upon" is used two times in the LXX (Septuagint) with the meaning of "offering"

The ancient Greek word "προσφέρω" ≈ "bring to or upon, apply to, lay upon", in the form used by Jesus here, is used one time in the GNT (Greek New Testament). When Jesus or Paul use a common word in a way that appears only one time in the GNT, one should look carefully at that word for double meanings, play on words, etc.

Another meaning if this exact word in the ancient Greek is "προσφέρης" ≈ "resemble".

Play on words: If therefore you offer [resemble] your gift on the altar ...

Do you "resemble" that remark? First known use is by Curly of the Three Stooges. This saying is often attributed to Groucho Marx.

The Greek translated as "altar" is also translated as "sanctuary" it some of the works of the early church fathers.

Details are left as a future topic.

A "gift" is something given, whether for good or not good. A similar word is "guest" and "ghost".

• An English "gift" is something given, good to the recipient.
• The German word "Gift" ≈ "poison" is something given, not good to the recipient.

There is an "if" for bringing a "gift" onto the altar. Does one need to carry a "gift" to the altar? Is there a "yoke of compulsion" to carry a "gift" to the altar?

Might Jesus be "angry" with you if you "carry (to offer)" a "gift" "on" the "altar" rather than doing something else that Jesus considers more important?

More: Matthew 5:22 The danger of brotherly anger

More: Hosting strange and hostile guests and ghosts

Why does Jesus say "and there" when just an "and" would suffice.

• ... gift on the altar and there remember ...
• ... gift on the altar and remember ...

From context it is clear that you are "there" and not somewhere else.

Meaningless sign: You are here. You are not there.

There appears to be a play on words here (and not there).

• "κακεί" ≈ "and there" as a contraction of "και" ≈ "and" and "εκεί" ≈ "there".
• "κακή" ≈ "baseness, wickedness, faint-bigheartedness" as a play on words.
• "κακός" ≈ "unimpressive, low born, powerless" as an adjective. The feminine form would be "κακή" ≈ "unimpressive, low born, powerless". The general idea is that of "bad".

The words would have sounded similar but with an accent shift. People fluent in the language easily pick up on such play on words. Today these words are pronounced the same. At that time, they would have had a similar but not the same sound. That is, a play on words. Jesus uses the Greek word "and" as part of a play on words in many places. For comparison.

The modern Greek phrase "κακή ιδέα" (ka-KEE ee-THEH-a) ≈ "bad idea".

Back in Matthew 5:23, Jesus appears to make a play on words with "and there" being "bad". In Matthew 6:34, later in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses the word on which the play on words appears to be made - to insure that the connection, once made, is justified.

The word is not the usual Greek word for "evil" but the word for "bad" and, as used by Jesus, refers to those who are "harmed" and need the "Good News".

For the play on words of "and there" with "bad", a feminine noun is needed for the feminine adjective form. Going back three verses one finds the word "δικαιοσύνη" ≈ "righteousness, justice" that is of feminine gender.

• As written: ... and there ...
• Play on words: ... bad (righteousness) ...

The second person singular (and plural) forms of the verb, as in many languages, can be used in two ways.

• You remember. (statement)
• Remember! (exclamation)

There are some play on word possibilities here.

• "μνησθης" ≈ "rememberest" as used here (appears one time in this from in the GNT).
• "μνηστεία" ≈ "proposal of marriage" as a play on words (and similar sounding words meaning wooing for marriage). This relates to Jesus being the "groom" and the church (group of believers) being the "bride".
• "μῆνις" ≈ "rage, wrath" (similar sounding word related to "mania").

Paul appears to use this play on word connection in Philippians.

More: Philippians 3:2-3 Possible solecism

The ancient Greek word "κατά σου" ≈ "against you" as in being "down on you". Using the play on words, the verse is as follows.

5:23: If therefore you offer [resemble] your gift on the altar, [bad (righteousness)], remember [as a groom wooing a bride] that the brother of yours (Jesus) has some things against (down on) you (detailed in Revelation).

The next verses will indicate a better way that is in line with what "the" brother (Jesus) desires.

But first, the Greek phrase "against you" is only used here and three times by Jesus in Revelation. This provides a hint as to the nature and substance of these things.

The ancient Greek word "κατά σου" ≈ "against you" as in being "down on you"

The ancient Greek prefix "κατά" ≈ "back, downwards, against, fully, completely". "σου" ≈ "you".

• "κατά" ≈ "against, opposing, into" (genitive)
• "κατά" ≈ "downwards, towards, according to" (accusative)
• "κᾷτα" ≈ "and then" as a short form of "καὶ εἶτᾰ" ≈ "and then".

Using the last word as a play on words, would be that the brother Jesus has something (and then some) against you.

If you have a lot of "brothers", is it very likely that at least one (or more) would have something "against" or "down on" you? Who is your "brother"? Who is your "neighbor"?

But this is "the" (definite article) "brother". Perhaps "the" (definite article) "brother" is, as in a previous verse, Jesus. Might Jesus have anything "against thee"?

This phase for "against you" is used only four times in the GNT. It is used here by Jesus and three times by Jesus, one each in the letters to the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna and Thiatara. Since the "brother" could be Jesus, let us look at those usages.

More: Dative case in Greek

More: Matthew 5:22 The danger of brotherly anger

The Greek translated as "left" is the word for "forgive" or "allow".

They had lost their "first" "love". When Jesus uses the word for "first" there is often no second or third or later option.
In many cases, losing the "love" of Jesus results in a "love" of oneself. The "birds" will use a false light to attract "fish" from which "pigs" are recruited to keep everyone in line as the "birds" create their own "house" built of "sand".

More: Matthew 5:15: This little light of mine

More: Matthew 5:13-16 Animal crackers

They held to the doctrine of Balaam. Balaam knew he could not go against God so he tried other ways to mislead Israel.

• eat things sacrificed to idols
• to commit fornication

The ancient Greek word "σκάνδαλον" ≈ "trap, snare" as in entice, tempt, etc., but is often translated as "stumbling block" is that of entrapping others, often by misleading logical arguments.

More: Matthew 11:5: Trapped by an offensive misinterpretation of Jesus

More: Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend

The following issues are raised.

• allowing the women Jezebel (as a prophetess)
• Teaching and seducing servants to commit fornication
• Eat things sacrificed to idols.

Are any of these issues that Jesus has "against you" to any or all of the churches in Revelation relevant to the Matthew 5:23? Review of the other church issues.

• losing their "first love" (Ephesus)
• eat things sacrificed to idols. This is a sacrifice. (Smyrna and Balaam)
• to commit fornication (Smyrna and Balaam)
• allowing the women Jezebel (as a prophetess) (Thiatara)
• Teaching and seducing servants to commit fornication (Thiatara)
• Eat things sacrificed to idols. (Thiatara)

Discuss: Are there examples of the "church" at any time throughout history doing the following?

☐ Offering sacrifices to idols.
☐ Eating things sacrificed to idols.
☐ Committing fornication.

Some of these ideas will be elaborated on in verses to follow. Note: Part of the story of Jezebel in the OT (Old Testament) involves a form of inquisition to take Naboth's vineyard. Discuss whether any of the following fit the above categories.

☐ Indulgences
☐ Purgatory
☐ Traditions over scripture
☐ Sainthood [comparison with Napoleon and ribbons]
☐ Do any other ideas come to mind?

The Greek for "leave" is the word often translated as "forgive" or "let go" or "allow". The word chosen can effect the meaning of the English translation. If you remember before you bring your "gift", should you even bother coming to the "altar"?

The results of a (computational) question in computer science are as follows: "yes", "no", "cancel" (bottom, ignore, not relevant, undefined, etc.).
If "reconciling" or "interacting" with your brother is never completed, then do you ever need to come back to the "altar" to offer the "gift"?

Details are left as a future topic.

The ancient Greek word "πρῶτον" ≈ "first" and is the source of English words such as "prototype". Jesus uses the Greek word for "first" three times in the Sermon on the Mount. In each case, upon analysis, there is a "first" step but the "second" step, if any, deviates from what you might otherwise expect.



A PhD, "Doctorate of Philosophy" is considered a terminal degree and most (reputable) institutions allow a person to only earn one PhD. There is no second field. Jesus wants to be number one on a list of one and not number one on a list of ten.

More: Matthew 6: Seek to eat , drink and be married to Jesus

More: Matthew 7:3-5 Beams and motes: the devil is in the details

More: An actor as a hypocrite is not real

Which is more important?

• A gift "before" the altar (that others can see that you did it).
• A good work "before" men (that others cannot see that you did it).

The Greek word for "before", as in "before" the "altar", was used by Jesus eight verses earlier. One is the let the true light of Jesus shine "before" men so that without seeing you, the may see your good works.

More: Matthew 5:16 Let the light of Jesus shine

The ancient Greek word "διαλασσω" ≈ "interchange, exchange". In context, it could mean "reconcile". The "exchange" or "interchange" of ideas or opinions, etc., is in line with the conflict resolution protocols outlined by Jesus in Matthew 18 where the facts are gathered and reported without deciding who is right and who is not right.

Paraphrase: ... go away and first interact with the brother (Jesus) ...

More: Matthew 18:15-17 Conflicting and faulty resolutions

The ancient Greek word "διαλασσω" ≈ "interchange, exchange".

• "διά" ≈ "through" and is the source of the first part of the English word "diameter".
• "ἀλλάσσω" ≈ "change, altar, exchange, take a new position, have dealings with". The Attic form is "ἀλλᾰ́ττω" ≈ "change, alter, exchange, take a new position, have dealings with".

A play on words might be with the following after the prefix for "through".

• "ἀλλαχῃ" ≈ "in another place". Should you be in another place?

Less similar are the following.

• "ἀγαθός" ≈ "good, capable, trustworthy".
• "ἀγηθής" ≈ "joyless" (of a person).

The ancient Greek word "ἐλθών" ≈ "go, come" comes from "ἔρχομαι" ≈ "go, come". English uses two words with different connotations for the same Greek word.

• ... go offer your gift
• ... come offer your gift

English implies a context. In Greek, the context must be inferred. In this context, both may have meanings and the meanings may not be the same.

Should translators (traitors, from the Italian saying) assume or take a point of view in their translations when the original language has multiple meanings, all of which can be true? The Italian phrase "Traduttore, traditore" ≈ "The translator is the traitor".

More: Everything being equal: To biff a translation

For each usage of the Greek for "go" or "went" or "come" or "came", which English words fit? Which English word fits best?

• Verse 23: Your "gift" is "on" the "altar". You are "before" the "altar".
• Verse 24: Your "gift" is "before" the "altar". How do you "forgive" your "gift"?


• To Jesus, you are the important "gift", not the "gift" on the "altar" used to support the religious establishment. This is the "yoke of compulsion" first stated by Amos, then Isaiah, then Jesus, etc.
• "Forgive" yourself. You may be at the "altar" in physical body, to satisfy the religious authorities, but your spirit is with Jesus and you should be where Jesus wants you to be and doing what Jesus wants you to do.

Paul appears to be explicitly stating what Jesus says in a more "quick witted" and "good mind" viewpoint (an important part of the next verse).

Will the religious establishment be upset about you not offering the gift they use to support themselves? What do you do? Jesus answers this question in the next verse, though some mistranslations hide the real meaning.

More: Matthew 5:25-26 Adversarial agreement