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Do not swear




Gospel
Matthew 23:13-22
Alas for you, blind guides!

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.
    ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
    ‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’

Reflection:
In this Gospel passage, Jesus delivers a strong rebuke to the religious leaders of His time—the scribes and Pharisees. He criticizes their hypocrisy, their distortion of religious truths, and their misplaced priorities. Instead of guiding others to God, they become obstacles, focusing on legalistic details rather than on what is sacred and true. Jesus reminds us that what makes something holy is not its material value, but God’s presence and purpose behind it. It’s a call for all of us to examine whether we are living our faith authentically or merely following empty rituals.

Question for Reflection:
Do my words and actions guide others closer to God—or do they sometimes become stumbling blocks?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see the truth and purify my heart from hypocrisy. Help me to live a life of sincerity and guide others to Your love with humility and integrity. Amen.
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