Matthew 23:15-25
New American Standard Bible
16Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’
17You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?
18And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering that is on it is obligated.’
19You blind men, which is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies the offering?
20Therefore, the one who swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it.
21And the one who swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells in it.
22And the one who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.
23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
24You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
King James Version
Chapter 23
15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.Christian Standard Bible
16"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever takes an oath by the temple, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.'
17Blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?
18Also, '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.'
19Blind people! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
20Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it.
21The one who takes an oath by the temple takes an oath by it and by him who dwells in it.
22And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God's throne and by him who sits on it.
23"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.
24Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!
New Living Translation
16Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple,’ but that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’
17Blind fools! Which is more important — the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?
18And you say that to swear ‘by the altar’ is not binding, but to swear ‘by the gifts on the altar’ is binding.
19How blind! For which is more important — the gift on the altar or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20When you swear ‘by the altar,’ you are swearing by it and by everything on it.
21And when you swear ‘by the Temple,’ you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.
22And when you swear ‘by heaven,’ you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.
23What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law — justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
24Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!
English Standard Version
16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘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.’
17You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?
18And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’
19You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
21And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.
22And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it.
23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
24You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
New International Version
16Woe to you, blind guides! 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.'
17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
18You 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.'
19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
21And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
22And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
23Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
New King James Version
16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’
17Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
18And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’
19Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
20Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it.
21He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it.
22And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
24Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
