15
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You travel across land and sea to find one person who will change to your ways. When you find that person, you make him more fit for hell than you are.
16
"How terrible for you! You guide the people, but you are blind. You say, 'If people swear by the Temple when they make a promise, that means nothing. But if they swear by the gold that is in the Temple, they must keep that promise.'
17
You are blind fools! Which is greater: the gold or the Temple that makes that gold holy?
18
And you say, 'If people swear by the altar when they make a promise, that means nothing. But if they swear by the gift on the altar, they must keep that promise.'
19
You are blind! Which is greater: the gift or the altar that 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 swears by the Temple is really using the Temple and also everything in the Temple
22
The person who swears by heaven is also using God's throne and the One who sits on that throne.
23
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth of everything you earn -- even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don't obey the really important teachings of the law -- justice, mercy, and being loyal. These are the things you should do, as well as those other things.
24
You guide the people, but you are blind! You are like a person who picks a fly out of a drink and then swallows a camel!
25
"How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, but inside they are full of things you got by cheating others and by pleasing only yourselves.