¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides,^(A) who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath^(B) by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’^{[a] 17} Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? ¹⁸ Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing; but whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁹ Blind people!^[b] For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?^{(C) 20} Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. ²¹ The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells^(D) in it. ²² And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne^(E) and by him who sits on it.^(F)

²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of^[c] mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice,^(G) mercy, and faithfulness.^[d] These things should have been done without neglecting the others. ²⁴ Blind guides!^(H) You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!