Matthew 23:16-22 ▼

16 |How terrible it will be for you, blind guides! You say, 'Whoever swears an oath by the sanctuary is excused, but whoever swears an oath by the gold of the sanctuary must keep his oath.'

17 You blind fools! What is more important, the gold or the sanctuary that made the gold holy?

18 Again you say, 'Whoever swears an oath by the altar is excused, but whoever swears by the gift that is on it must keep his oath.'

19 You blind men! Which is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?

20 Therefore, the one who swears an oath by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

21 The one who swears an oath by the sanctuary swears by it and by the one who lives there.

22 And the one who swears an oath by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.