“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’ Matthew 23:16
What is a blind guide?
Someone whose directions and counsel can’t be trusted.
Someone who cannot be counted on to get you to your destination.
Someone who is unaware of their deficiencies.
The Pharisees loved to debate minutiae of the Law.
This is allowed. This is not.
They thrived on technicalities that only they could rule on.
People made promises then swore by something to strengthen their promise.
The blind guides ruled if you swear by the temple, you were not obligated to fulfill your vow.
But if you swear by the GOLD in the temple, that was binding.
Jesus says,
The distinctions make no sense.
Mean what you say.
Keep your word.
Easy enough.
Do we ever pride ourselves on our knowledge of (and obedience to) minutiae?
Do we ever overpromise and then try to weasel our way out of an obligation?
Are we known as people whose word is their bond?
Can we be good examples or are we blind guides?