Mat 23:17-19 | MHM | STEP | v. 17 : He calls them “blind fools” because they do not see that the temple is greater than the gold. The temple makes the gold holy, not the other way around (Matthew 23:17 ).

‏ Matthew 23:17-19

v. 17: He calls them “blind fools” because they do not see that the temple is greater than the gold. The temple makes the gold holy, not the other way around (Matthew 23:17 ^a).

v. 18: Jesus continues, “You also 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.’” They cared more about the gifts than about the altar, but they missed the point (Matthew 23:18 ^b).

v. 19: He calls them blind again. The altar makes the gift holy, not the other way around. They were obsessed with small details and missed the important things (Matthew 23:19 ^c).