Matthew 23:21 net — And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it.

NET Bible

"And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it."

— Matthew 23:21, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

Matthew 23:21 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

Matthew 23 — Context

18

And,‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.’

19

You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

20

So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.

21

And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it.

22

And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.

23

“Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law– justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others.

24

Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!

Matthew 23:21 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Matthew 23:21 say?
Matthew 23:21 in the NET Bible reads: “And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it.”
Where is Matthew 23:21 in the Bible?
Matthew 23:21 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Matthew, chapter 23, verse 21.
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 23:21.
What translation should I read Matthew 23:21 in?
Matthew 23:21 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 23:21?
Matthew 23:21 reads (NET): “And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it.” 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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