Matthew 23:16

Translations

Modern

Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

Traditional

Woe 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!

Literal

Woe to you, blind guides, those saying, ‘Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath.’

Latin

Væ vobis duces cæci, qui dicitis: Quicumque juraverit per templum, nihil est: qui autem juraverit in auro templi, debet.

Original

Greek

English

Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

Notes

Matthew 23:16–22

The religious leaders said that some oaths were less binding, and this allowed them to deceive people. But Jesus called for honesty and for keeping every commitment (see Matthew 5:33–37).

Matthew 23:13–36

Matthew gathered seven warnings of sorrow to come (literally woe to you) inspired by similar Old Testament lists (Isaiah 5:8–23; Habakkuk 2:6–20). Matthew arranged them to reach a climax with the killing of the prophets.

Theme notes and profiles

Jewish Leaders The Pharisees Legalism Religious Hypocrisy

Events

Related verses

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Matthew 23:17
You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred?
James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
Matthew 23:24
You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Matthew 5:33–35
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
Matthew 23:19
You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?
Matthew 23:26
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
Isaiah 56:10–11
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
Matthew 15:5–6
But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever you would have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’
John 9:39–41
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”
Galatians 5:3
Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.
Mark 7:10–13
For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

Matthew 23:16

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