Matthew 23:16-26

Thomson(i) 16 Alas for you, blind guides, who say, to swear by the temple is not binding; but to swear by the gold of the temple is binding. 17 Foolish and blind! which is greater? The gold? Or the temple which halloweth the gold? 18 And, to swear by the altar doth not bind; but to swear by the gift thereon is binding. 19 Foolish and blind! which is greater? The gift? Or the altar which halloweth the gift? 20 He therefore who sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it and by all on it. 21 And he who sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it and by him who dwelleth therein. 22 And he who sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him who sitteth upon it. 23 Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you pay tithe of mint, and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice, mercy and fidelity. These you ought to have practised without omitting those. 24 Blind guides, you are skimming off the gnat, and swallowing the camel. 25 Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you cleanse the outside of the cup and the plate; but on the inside they are full of rapine, and intemperance. 26 Blind Pharisee, cleanse first what is within the cup, and the plate; so the outside will be clean.