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

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

¹⁶ “Woe to ^(A)you, ^(B)blind guides, who say, ^(C)‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or ^(D)the temple that has made the gold sacred? ¹⁸ And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by ^(E)the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or ^(F)the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by ^(G)him who dwells in it. ²² And whoever swears by ^(H)heaven swears by ^(I)the throne of God and by ^(J)him who sits upon it.

^23 (K)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ^(L)you tithe mint and dill and ^(M)cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: ^(N)justice and mercy and faithfulness. ^(O)These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing ^(P)a camel!

⁸ But you have turned aside from the way. ^(A)You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted ^(B)the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts,

False Prophets and Teachers

2 But ^(A)false prophets also arose among the people, ^(B)just as there will be false teachers among you, who will ^(C)secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master ^(D)who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.