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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 23:16 - 23:22
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_23:16-22
16"Woe 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, 'Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.'19You blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering? 20Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it. 21And whoever swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells within it. 22And whoever swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it."
Mat_23:16 "blind guides" This was a sarcastic metaphor for the religious leaders (cf. Mat_15:14; Mat_23:16; Mat_23:24).
Mat_23:16-22 "swears by" The Jews had developed an extensive system of valid and invalid oaths, using God's name (cf. Mat_5:33-37; Jas_5:12). It was a way to allow lying while appearing religious (cf. Lev_19:12; Deu_23:21).
▣ "You fools" See Special Topic at Mat_5:22.