17. You are blind and foolish! Which is more important? Is it the gold? Or is it the temple that makes the gold holy?
18. "You also say, 'If anyone takes an oath in the name of the altar, it means nothing. But anyone who takes an oath in the name of the gift on it must keep the oath.'
19. You blind men! Which is more important? Is it the gift? Or is it the altar that makes the gift holy?
20. "So anyone who takes an oath in the name of the altar takes an oath in the name of it and of everything on it.
21. And anyone who takes an oath in the name of the temple takes an oath in the name of it and of the One who lives in it.
22. And anyone who takes an oath in the name of heaven takes an oath in the name of God's throne and of the One who sits on it.
23. "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You give God a tenth of your spices, like mint, dill and cummin. But you have not practiced the more important things of the law, like fairness, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the last things without failing to do the first.
24. You blind guides! You remove the smallest insect from your food. But you swallow a whole camel!
25. "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You clean the outside of the cup and dish. But on the inside you are full of greed. You only want to satisfy yourselves.
26. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish. Then the outside will also be clean.
27. "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and clean.
28. It is the same with you. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong. You pretend to be what you are not.
29. "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You build tombs for the prophets. You decorate the graves of the godly.