¹⁴ Leave them; they are blind guides.^[a](A) If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”^(B)

³⁹ He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?^(A)

¹⁶ “Woe to you, blind guides!^(A) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’^{(B) 17} You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?^{(C) 18} You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?^{(D) 20} Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells^(E) in it. ²² And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.^(F)

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth^(G) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.^(H) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. ²⁴ You blind guides!^(I) You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

⁸ But you have turned from the way^(A) and by your teaching have caused many to stumble;^(B) you have violated the covenant^(C) with Levi,”^(D) says the Lord Almighty.

⁹ “‘And if the prophet^(A) is enticed^(B) to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.^{(C) 10} They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him.

False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 But there were also false prophets^(A) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.^(B) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord^(C) who bought them^(D)—bringing swift destruction on themselves.