Matthew 23:16-28

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on Matthew 23:16-28

16Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
17You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred?
18And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’
19You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes it sacred?
20So then, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
21And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the One who dwells in it.
22And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it.
23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.
28In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
— Matthew 23:16-28

Related Resources from Heartlight

What Sorrow Awaits! (3)
Devo: What Jesus Did!

"[Jesus continued his condemnation of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees:] "Blind guides! What sorrow awaits you! For you say that it..."

Perfectly Honest
Article by Steve Higginbotham

Are you telling the truth ... the whole truth? Honesty is more than just relating facts, it's telling the whole truth.

What Sorrow Awaits! (4)
Devo: What Jesus Did!

"[Jesus continued his condemnation:] "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even..."

What Sorrow Awaits! (5)
Devo: What Jesus Did!

"[Jesus continued his condemnation:] "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean....."

What Sorrow Awaits! (6)
Devo: What Jesus Did!

"[Jesus continued his condemnation:] "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed..."

The Truth Behind Fancy Words
Article by Alan Smith

What lies behind the words we use to describe ourselves? The truth is often not found in the fancy words we use about ourselves; what matters is the heart.

More than Change
Article by Phil Ware

Surely you want to do something a little deeper than just another coat of pain? External changes won't cut it, we need real spiritual transformation which comes from the Spirit of God.

Bureaucratic Encumbrance
Article by Rubel Shelly

What happens when process becomes more important than mission? Rubel Shelly uses General Motors before reorganization and the New York Times article to help remind us that we can be full of so many processes, procedures, rules, and traditions that we lose the main objective -- if everything is important, then nothing

What's Really Important
Article by Paul Faulkner

How do you know the difference? Paul Faulkner reminds us that most folks miss the point of life entirely because they don't know what is really important.

Cross References for Matthew 23:16-28

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.