Matthew 23:16-20
Mat 23:16 (KJB)
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!
Previously Jesus had referred to these leaders as blind leaders of the blind and
now once again He calls them “blind guides.” The Pharisees had developed another
tradition that swearing by the temple would not be binding upon a person but if
they swore by the gold of the temple, then their vow was binding. The leaders,
which were greed driven, saw the gold as being more important than the temple
where God was worshipped. Since gold was used as ornamentation in the temple,
Jesus was pointing out to them that the temple and not the gold held the
significant place. It was like the Pharisees were showing that God held second
place to gold or other valuables. This was because they were greed driven and
saw nothing but wealth. God was not central in their lives and their focus
showed it plainly.
Mat 23:17 (KJB)
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that
sanctifieth the gold?
Jesus had previously called these leaders blind but now He adds the term
“fools.” The term “fools” was used to describe one who was a sinner. They were
so blinded by greed that they saw the gold greater than the temple. Then Jesus
asks them a basic question, which is greater the gold or the temple that
sanctifies the gold. Let’s bring this question down to today. What is greater,
the born again Christian or the one who sanctifies (makes them holy) the
Christian, that is, the one who saved them? The Pharisees only saw the gold and
did not see the big spiritual picture. It is like when we give to missions. Is
our gift greater or is the one who receives that gift and places it where needed
to reach souls for Christ greater? I am not talking about the mission agency but
Christ who distributes the money where needed.
Mat 23:18 (KJB)
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth
by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
The Jews had also developed a similar tradition concerning the altar and a gift.
The brazen altar would be in view here and it stood in the outer court, just
outside the temple building. It was here that the sacrifices took place. It was
considered to be very holy and the religious leaders had reasoned that anything
placed on it was holy. They had once again placed the emphasis on the gift
rather than on the altar which sanctified the gift.
Mat 23:19 (KJB)
Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that
sanctifieth the gift?
Jesus asks a similar question. Is the altar or the gift on the altar greater?
The answer is obvious that it is the altar which is greater because it
sanctifies the gift. Once again the Pharisees did not see the holiness of God
and the only source of holiness of both the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:20 (KJB)
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things
thereon.
When one swears by the altar, they must realize the extent to what they are
making the oath. The swear by the altar and all things which were upon the
altar. The ultimate reality was that the gold was part of the temple and the
altar was part of the temple, so when someone made a vow by swearing by these
things, they must realize that they were making that oath in the presence of God
Himself. Whether they had the right perspective or the wrong one, the swearing
was still done in the presence of God. When they did not fulfill their vow, they
sinned against God, not the temple and not the gold.