Daily Writing

Friday, 16 October 2026

He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. Matthew 23:21

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And the ‘having sworn in the temple’, he swears in it and in the ‘dwelling, it’.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus said that he who swears by the altar swears by everything on it. He next says, “And the ‘having sworn in the temple’.”

Jesus elevates the matter of sanctification from the altar to the temple. The altar is a part of the temple. The scope of the sanctification of the altar is that which touches it. The scope of the temple was a place of holiness. Different places within the temple allowed only certain people to enter.

Solomon’s temple had an inner court for the priests and an outer court for the people of Israel to gather. In Herod’s temple, there were these, but added in were the court of the Gentiles and the court of the women.

Gentiles could go so far within the complex. The people of Israel could go so far and no further. The priests, depending on their situation (being clean or unclean, etc.), could minister up to a certain area, or they may be restricted from ministering.

From there, the high priest alone could enter the Most Holy Place. But he was restricted to entering once a year on the day of atonement. And he could not enter without the blood of a sacrifice for sin. This is because it was the dwelling place of the Lord within the temple.

Because the Lord’s presence was there, Jesus says that anyone who swore in (meaning by) the temple, “he swears in it and in the ‘dwelling, it’.”

It is the Lord who sanctified the temple. His presence there meant that swearing by the temple meant that the utterance included swearing by the Lord who dwelt in the temple. As such, any such oath had to be considered binding. Jesus carefully schools the religious leaders of Israel on things they were apparently unable to think through properly.

Life application: In Matthew 5, using the same word translated as “swear” here, Jesus said –

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Jesus is not telling the people in Matthew 23 to swear. He is telling them what it means when they do swear by something. His audience was the people of Israel. In Leviticus 26, the Lord said –

“I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you.
¹² I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” Leviticus 26:11, 12

If the Lord dwelled among the people, then logically, anything they said would need to be considered as binding. Hence, His instructions were that swearing was unnecessary. The words the people uttered were to be truthful, as if each thing they said was a sacred utterance.

Paul cites Leviticus 26 in 2 Corinthians 6:16 –

“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
‘I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.’”

As this is so, our words should be as honest as those expected of the people of Israel, as stated by Jesus in Matthew 5. When we speak, it should be with the understanding that our relationship with God is being evaluated by the truthfulness of our words.

It should be wholly unnecessary for a believer to swear as an attempt to confirm his words. What he or she says should hold up to scrutiny apart from such things. This does not mean that Christians are not to swear when asked to do so, such as confirming one’s words on a legal document or in a court of law.

Those things are externally required. The swearing Jesus and the apostles refer to is the confirmation of the truthfulness of one’s words, as if a swear should be needed to ensure what they say can be trusted. This should be unnecessary.

Lord God, help us always to be truthful in the things we say. May our promises to others be considered as binding, and may we diligently go about fulfilling what our mouths have spoken. May our actions never bring dishonor on Your glorious name. Amen.

Thursday, 15 October 2026

Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. Matthew 23:20

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“The ‘therefore having sworn in the altar’, he swears in it and in all those atop it.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus asked the question as to which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift. The answer is obvious. The altar is greater. Jesus next says, “The ‘therefore having sworn in the altar’.”

This refers to the person, identified as “who” in the first clause of verse 18 –

“And who, if he should swear ‘in the altar’, nothing, it is. Who, also, if he should swear ‘in the gift’, the ‘atop it’, he is obligated.”

When such a person swears in the altar, Jesus says, “he swears in it and in all those atop it.” It cannot be that swearing on what is atop the altar is a binding vow while swearing on the altar itself is nothing. The things atop the altar have been sanctified, but it is by the altar that it is so.

The scribes and Pharisees assumed that something other than the altar, maybe the act of giving or some other deed affixed to the process, is what sanctified the gift. This shows a naivete about the precept of the law, a misunderstanding about the source of holiness, and an abuse of the sanctification process.

To further solidify this concept, Jesus will continue to explain how the process of sanctification comes about.

Life application: In Isaiah 65, the Lord explains the type of people Jesus is speaking to right now. The infractions stated may not match the actions of the scribes and Pharisees, but the attitude is what is to be focused on –

“I was sought by those who did not ask for Me;
I was found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’
To a nation that was not called by My name.
² I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people,
Who walk in a way that is not good,
According to their own thoughts;
³ A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face;
Who sacrifice in gardens,
And burn incense on altars of brick;
⁴ Who sit among the graves,
And spend the night in the tombs;
Who eat swine’s flesh,
And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
⁵ Who say, ‘Keep to yourself,
Do not come near me,
For I am holier than you!’
These are smoke in My nostrils,
A fire that burns all the day.” Isaiah 65:1-5

Israel, being led by people like the scribes and Pharisees, had a faulty idea about holiness and sanctification. They thought they were holy because of who they are, not because of the One who selected them to be His people. The thinking is, “We must be holy because God selected us.”

Rather, the Lord told them repeatedly right in the law that they were to be holy because He is holy. Their holiness was only obtainable by doing what the Lord instructed them to do. And the doing was to be more than a tedious, rote thing. Their mindset, and thus their conduct, was to be conscious of the Lord and His presence at all times.

That is reflected in the precept noted in Chapter 22 about loving the Lord God with all one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength. Israel, having the idea of sanctification completely backward, failed to do this. Hence, Paul cites Isaiah 65 in Romans 10.

Those outside of Israel who come to God through the gospel do so because they understand that they are not holy. They hear of God’s righteousness through the gospel and its imputation, and they reach out for it. Israel’s attitude, which continues to this day, is, “We don’t need Jesus to be holy. God selected us, demonstrating that we are holy.”

One who feels he is already holy before God will naturally reject the gospel because Jesus, through the gospel, essentially calls out, “You need to be holy. I can make you holy. Come to me.” The response is, “I don’t need that. I am already a member of God’s holy people. I’m good, but thanks anyway.”

In understanding that they are currently Lo Ammi, Not My People, Israel can deduce that they need something external to make them holy. The tribulation will draw this out of them. When it happens, a change will take place. They will finally get it.

Until then, they are a hard bunch to evangelize.  Some understand the gospel, but for the most part, it is an offensive suggestion to them that they need holiness imputed to them. Keep Israel, the nation, in prayer that their eyes will be opened.

O God, in Jeremiah, it says, “The Lord, Our Righteousness.” Indeed, there is nothing righteous in man apart from You. May we cling to the cross of Christ, understanding the magnitude of what it signifies in our lives. Thank You for the cross of Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 14 October 2026

Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Matthew 23:19

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Moronics and blind! Which, indeed – greater: the gift or the altar the ‘hallowing the gift’?” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus recalled the unsound teaching of the scribes and Pharisees who said that swearing by the altar, it is nothing, but swearing by the gift on it obliged the person to perform their vow. Jesus next says, “Moronics and blind!”

Jesus’ words indicate that it is as if they were brain-dead blind people. If they were walking toward a chasm, they would continue and tumble over the side. In a spiritual sense, that is exactly what was coming. Because of their teaching, Jesus reminds them of a truth found directly in Scripture, asking, “Which, indeed – greater: the gift or the altar the ‘hallowing the gift’?”

The answer is found in Exodus 29 –

“Seven days you will ‘cover’ upon the altar, and you will consecrate את it. And it will be, the altar, ‘sacred, sacreds’. All the ‘touching’ in the altar, it will be sacred.” Exodus 29:37

It is the altar that sanctifies what touches it. A gift may be of silver, gold, etc. But there are idols made of those things. There are coins made of metals. The substance of the gift comes from the ground and has no intrinsic holiness. But when it is placed upon the altar, it becomes sacred.

Ultimately, it is the Lord who sanctified the sanctuary where the altar was. Thus, through their ridiculous teaching, they not only dishonored what is taught in the law concerning the altar and what touches it, but more to the point, they dishonored the Lord who sanctified the altar in His sanctuary. For example –

“The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.” Ezekiel 37:28

Israel was in an unclean state among the nations. In their return, they will have a sanctuary authorized by the Lord. That sanctuary will be sanctified because of the Lord. In turn, the people who were previously unclean will be sanctified by the sanctuary which is sanctified by the Lord.

An altar in a pagan temple sanctifies nothing. The altar in Israel was not sacred unless the Lord sanctified it. Once the altar is sanctified, that which touches it becomes sacred. Everything leads back to the Source.

Life application: The Jewish culture has a phrase used during marriage rites that says, “Blessed are You, Lord, Who sanctifies His people Israel through chupah and kiddushin.” The meaning is “through the marriage canopy and sanctification/betrothal.”

The claim is that because they do these things, the Lord sanctifies His people. But if they are not obedient to the law they agreed to, how can they be sanctified? They remain unclean before the Lord. This is the state they have been in since they rejected Jesus, followed by the destruction of the temple.

They have lived among the Gentiles, in a state of being rejected, just as the law proclaimed would happen. They have been regathered to the land of Israel and are being prepared for entry into the New Covenant, but they are not there yet.

The society in general accepts many things contrary to sound morality. For example, the marriage ceremony that claims they are sanctified through it has been adapted (queered) to accommodate same-sex relationships.

Just as in conservative vs. liberal churches, there are branches of Judaism that reject this while others accept it. But this reveals how people claim sanctification without any justification. Churches that ordain women, for example, do so contrary to the clear words of Scripture. And yet, they claim they are led by the Holy Spirit.

But the Spirit cannot condone what He has already determined is unacceptable. Holiness and sanctification must stem from the Lord. As the word is given by the Lord, a state of holiness can only exist when one lives in accord with the word.

To some extent, we all fail in this, and that is where grace is needed, but a direct refusal to adhere to Scripture can never be considered acceptable. Be careful to not get caught up in fancy words that have no substance behind them. The word of the Lord is the substance we are to use to guide our lives and actions. Endeavor to learn and apply this precious word to your lives.

Lord God, may we think clearly and soberly about what Your word says, applying it to our lives in the proper context. May we revere Your word as sacred because it comes from You, the Sanctifier of Your word and of Your people. Amen.

Tuesday, 13 October 2026

And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ Matthew 23:18

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And who, if he should swear ‘in the altar’, nothing, it is. Who, also, if he should swear ‘in the gift’, the ‘atop it’, he is obligated.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Moronics and blind! Which, indeed, greater, it is, the gold or the temple, the ‘having hallowed the gold’?” He next turns to more illogical thinking on their part, repeating what they say, “And who, if he should swear ‘in the altar’, nothing, it is.”

The doctrine of the scribes and Pharisees taught that when someone swore by the altar of the temple, the vow could be released, as if it were unimportant. This is the same as their unholy attitude in verse 16 concerning the temple. Jesus continues, citing their illogical thinking, saying, “Who, also, if he should swear ‘in the gift’, the ‘atop it’, he is obligated.”

The altar is the brazen altar first described in Exodus 27:1-8 for use in the tabernacle. The altar, in every detail, pointed to the sacrificial role of Christ. Later, the altar for the temple is described in 2 Chronicles 4:1 –

“Moreover he made a bronze altar: twenty cubits was its length, twenty cubits its width, and ten cubits its height.”

This altar was large and impressive. The “gift” upon the altar refers to the animal sacrifices brought forth by the people. The acceptable sacrifices are detailed in the law. Each of them also anticipates the work of Christ, including as He fellowships with His people.

Jesus will again show them the illogical nature of their doctrine.

Life application: As noted above, Jesus is the fulfillment of the offerings and sacrifices detailed in the law. An example of this is found in Ephesians 5 –

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ² And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1, 2

The “sweet-smelling aroma” comes from the terminology found in law. A similar phrase is found repeatedly there. One example is the sin offering for the people when they sin –

“If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, ²⁸ or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. ²⁹ And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering, and kill the sin offering at the place of the burnt offering. ³⁰ Then the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. ³¹ He shall remove all its fat, as fat is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering; and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a sweet aroma to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.” Leviticus 4:27-31

What may seem like a tedious read when you get to Leviticus and all of its sacrificial detail is actually a presentation of the work of Christ. Everything about these verses points to Him and His work. To show the supremacy of Christ’s single sacrifice over the repeated sacrifices of the temple, the author of Hebrews says –

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. ² For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. ³ But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
⁵ Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
⁶ In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’”
⁸ Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), ⁹ then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. ¹⁰ By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

As you can see, the Bible is taking us on a journey, anticipating Christ while moving mankind from law to grace. Why anyone would want to step back from God’s grace in Christ and return to a system that could never take away sin is hard to understand. Be grateful to God for what He has done in Christ. Accept His grace, and trust in Him in all your days. In this, God will be pleased with you.

Lord God, help us to hold fast to Your grace as it is revealed in the giving of Your Son. Thank You that Jesus has done it all. Now, all we need to do is believe that. Help us to cling to the gospel, never marring it by trying to add to it. Amen.

Monday, 12 October 2026

Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?  Matthew 23:17

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“Moronics and blind! Which, indeed, greater, it is, the gold or the temple, the ‘having hallowed the gold’?” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus scolded the scribes and Pharisees, calling them blind guides because of their illogical thinking concerning swearing an oath. He now continues that, saying, “Moronics and blind!”

The adjective móros, moronic, has been seen a couple of times already. It signifies one who is dull or stupid. Strong calls them blockheads because they are absurd and foolish. HELPS Word Studies says they are mentally inert, lacking a grip on reality because they are acting as though brainless.

It fits well here. These blockheads had not thought through their doctrine at all. These were supposed to be the religious elite of the nation representing the Lord to the world, and they couldn’t even figure out something so basic as what Jesus will next question, which is, “Which, indeed, greater, it is, the gold or the temple?”

The question is as basic as asking what it is about being president that makes a person more worthy of honor and respect. There have been good presidents, and there have been terrible presidents.

In the past twenty years, there have been some very disgraceful men who have become president. In and of themselves, they are not worthy of any respect at all. It would be contemptuous to hire them as janitors because they would disgrace the noble duty of being a janitor. And yet, somehow, they weaseled into the highest position in the land.

Because they did, they were given the respect of the office. After leaving office, they are supposed to continue to be granted the title and the respect. But what is it that makes it so? Jesus asks, is it the gold or the temple, “the ‘having hallowed the gold’?”

The answer is obvious. The temple is what hallows the gold in the temple. Therefore, the temple is greater than the gold in the temple. Gold is just gold. People may wear it on a ring, or they may plug a cavity in their tooth with gold. Wastewater treatment plants use gold in instruments to verify various measurements (be sure to not throw the old instrument away without getting out that gold!), and so forth.

Such gold is common because the use of the gold is common. However, when the gold is in the temple, it is hallowed because the temple is the Lord’s sacred dwelling place. The office of president deserves respect because the US Constitution, which provides the framework for the establishment and running of the nation, sets forth the office of president as worthy of honor and respect.

The scribes and Pharisees are rightly termed blockheads or moronics because they didn’t think through something so simple. Jesus says woe to them for such idiocy.

Life application: In the US military, enlisted personnel are required to salute officers, and they are to initiate the salute. The officer is then required to return the salute to the enlisted member. The officer has been commissioned and is entitled to the respect of the office. However, the officer is not absolved from returning respect to his fellow soldier. The order is what proves the propriety.

Within the officer ranks, the lower-ranking officer initiates the salute to the higher rank. The salute is to be returned by the higher-ranking officer. This is a standard that is set forth, and it is considered inviolable. When a staff car carrying a high-ranking officer passes by, those of lesser rank must salute that car. To fail to do so can get you in hot water.

Despite these and other set standards that are to be carefully followed in regard to saluting, there is one standard that is set apart and above all others. Regardless of rank or position, a person who has won the Medal of Honor, regardless of rank is to be saluted first, even by the highest-ranking officers. Why is this?

The answer lies in what the medal signifies. It has been set apart as the highest award for military bravery due to the extraordinary valor represented by the medal. This can be the case even if the recipient is otherwise not a great person in some way or another. That doesn’t matter. Just as there are many officers who are not so great in one way or another, the position is what demands the respect.

And most Medal of Honor recipients will openly admit that they wear the medal not because they feel they have earned it, but because those around them who paid great sacrifices, even giving their lives in the service of their country, are reflected in the medal. They understand that no man is an island and that what they earned was because they were a part of something greater than they are.

As this is so with those in the US military, how much more should it be so for those who are in Christ. There are many people in the church who we may not like very much, but they should be treated with respect because they have been sanctified by the Lord. It can be a tough calling when dealing with some people, but it is appropriate.

Let us remember this and treat others, especially those of the faith, with respect: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10

Lord God, may You be exalted in our thoughts, actions, and words at all times. Thank You for having set us apart as sacred through the precious blood of Christ. May we act in a manner worthy of this position and treat others in Christ with respect. Help us in this, O God. Amen.