Matthew 23:16-18

Contemporary English Version

¹⁶ You are in for trouble! You are supposed to lead others, but you are blind. You teach that it doesn't matter if a person swears by the temple. But you say it does matter if someone swears by the gold in the temple. ¹⁷ You blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

¹⁸ You also teach that it doesn't matter if a person swears by the altar. But you say it does matter if someone swears by the gift on the altar.