Matthew 23:16-22

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. ¹⁹ Are you blind? Which is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ Anyone who swears by the altar also swears by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple also swears by God, who lives there. ^22 (A) To swear by heaven is the same as swearing by God's throne and by the one who sits on that throne.