Verses 23-24 describe a situation where someone has a just claim against the person here spoken to, but where the guilty person does not feel hostile toward the one who has this claim against him. This is the first application of the principles given in verse 21-22, and it is concerned with reconciliation.

So indicates the relation between what has just been said and what Jesus is going on to say. “As a result,” “Consequently,” “Therefore,” or “Because of this” are common translations.

You is singular, as if Jesus is speaking to each individual among the disciples.

The gift is some sort of sacrifice. The Greek text does not specify the recipient, but “God” is obviously intended (Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Offering your gift is speaking of “offering a sacrifice to God” or “making an offering to God.”

The altar is “the place for making sacrifices” or “the platform (or, place) on which offerings to God are given.” It may be necessary to add “in the Temple.”

That your brother has something against you indicates that the person who is bringing the sacrifice is the one at fault. This may be translated as “that your brother has a grievance (or, complaint) against you (for something you did)” or “… is angry because of what you did.” Note also the comments on “brother” in verse 22.

In several languages this whole verse should be restructured to be more natural; for example, “So if you are about to offer a gift to God on the altar, but remember that there is a brother who has a grievance against you…” or “So if, as you are coming to offer your gift to God on the altar, you remember that your brother has a complaint with you….”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .