New International Reader's Version

Matthew 23:13-14-21 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

13-14. "How terrible it will be for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter. And you will not let those enter who are trying to.

15. "How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You travel everywhere to win one person to your faith. Then you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

16. "How terrible for you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone takes an oath in the name of the temple, it means nothing. But anyone who takes an oath in the name of the gold of the temple must keep the oath.'

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.