Matthew 23:16-22

Expanded Bible

¹⁶ “·How terrible for [^LWoe to] you! ·You guide the people, but you are blind [^LBlind guides!]. You say, ‘If people ·swear [make an oath/vow] by the Temple when they make a promise, that means nothing. But if they swear by the gold that is in the Temple, they ·must keep that promise [are obligated/bound].’ ¹⁷ You are blind fools! Which is greater: the gold or the Temple that makes that gold ·holy [sacred; sanctified]? ¹⁸ And you say, ‘If people ·swear [make an oath/vow] by the altar when they make a promise, that means nothing. But if they ·swear [make an oath/vow] by the ·gift [offering] on the altar, they ·must keep that promise [are obligated/bound].’ ¹⁹ You are blind! Which is greater: the ·gift [offering] or the altar that makes the gift ·holy [sacred; sanctified]? ²⁰ [^LSo; Therefore] The person who swears by the altar is really swearing by the altar and also everything on the altar. ²¹ And the person who swears by the Temple is really swearing by the Temple and the One who ·lives [dwells] in the Temple. ²² The person who swears by heaven is also swearing by God’s throne and the One who sits on that throne.