Matthew 23:17 asv — Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold?

American Standard Version

"Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold? "

— Matthew 23:17, American Standard Version

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Matthew 23:17 in Other Translations

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Matthew 23 — Context

14

15

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.

16

Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.

17

Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold?

18

And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.

19

Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

20

He therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

Matthew 23:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 23:17 say?
Matthew 23:17 in the American Standard Version reads: “Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold? ”
Where is Matthew 23:17 in the Bible?
Matthew 23:17 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 23, verse 17.
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew is traditionally attributed to Matthew (Levi), tax-collector turned apostle. It was written c. AD 50–70.
What is the book of Matthew about?
Matthew presents Jesus as the long-awaited Jewish Messiah — son of David, son of Abraham, fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Structured around five great teaching blocks including the Sermon on the Mount, it ends with the risen King commissioning his disciples to make disciples of all nations.
What are the major themes of Matthew?
Matthew explores themes including Kingdom of Heaven, Messiah, Fulfillment, Discipleship, Great Commission. These themes shape the meaning and context of Matthew 23:17.
What translation should I read Matthew 23:17 in?
Matthew 23:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Matthew 23:17?
Matthew 23:17 reads (ASV): “Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold? ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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