Matthew 23:13-22

13“But woe (judgment is coming) to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are [in the process of] entering to do so.

14[Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you swallow up widows’ houses, and to cover it up you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.]

15“Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte (convert to Judaism), and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, that is nothing (non-binding); but whoever swears [an oath] by the gold of the temple is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].’

17You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the sanctuary of the temple that sanctified the gold?

18And [you scribes and Pharisees say], ‘Whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, that is nothing (non-binding), but whoever swears [an oath] by the offering on it, he is obligated [as a debtor to fulfill his vow and keep his promise].’

19You [spiritually] blind men, which is more important, the offering, or the altar that sanctifies the offering?

20Therefore, whoever swears [an oath] by the altar, swears both by it and by everything [offered] on it.

21And whoever swears [an oath] by the sanctuary of the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells within it.

22And whoever swears [an oath] by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it.