Matthew 23:17 cpdv — You are foolish and blind! For which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

Catholic Public Domain Version

"You are foolish and blind! For which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? "

— Matthew 23:17, Catholic Public Domain Version

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Matthew 23:17 in Other Translations

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Matthew 23 — Context

14

Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you consume the houses of widows, praying long prayers. Because of this, you shall receive the greater judgment.

15

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and by land, in order to make one convert. And when he has been converted, you make him twice the son of Hell that you are yourselves.

16

Woe to you, blind guides, who say: ‘Whoever will have sworn by the temple, it is nothing. But whoever will have sworn by the gold of the temple is obligated.’

17

You are foolish and blind! For which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

18

And you say: ‘Whoever will have sworn by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever will have sworn by the gift that is on the altar is obligated.’

19

How blind you are! For which is greater: the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

20

Therefore, whoever swears by the altar, swears by it, and by all that is on it.

Matthew 23:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 23:17 say?
Matthew 23:17 in the Catholic Public Domain Version reads: “You are foolish and blind! For which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies 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 (CPDV): “You are foolish and blind! For which is greater: the gold, or the temple that sanctifies 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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