16 “How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You guide the people, but you are blind. You say, ‘If anyone swears by the Temple when he makes a promise, that means nothing. But if anyone swears by the gold that is in the Temple, then he must keep that promise.’
17 You are blind fools! Which is greater: the gold or the Temple? The Temple makes that gold holy.
18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar when he makes a promise, that means nothing. But if he swears by the gift on the altar, then he must keep his promise.’
19 You are blind! Which is greater: the gift or the altar? The altar makes the gift holy.
20 The person who swears by the altar is really using the altar and also everything on the altar.
21 And the person who uses the Temple to make a promise is really using the Temple and also everything in the Temple.
22 The person who uses heaven to make a promise is also using God’s throne and the One who sits on that throne.