You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred?
And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing,.... These are again the words or savings of the scribes and Pharisees, and express their sentiments and practice: it was usual with them to swear by the altar; and this was reckoned either no sin at all, or such an oath was not accounted binding on a man; he might break, or keep it as...
Verse 17. The temple that sanctifieth the gold. To sanctify is to make holy. The gold had no holiness but what it derived from the temple. If in any other place, it would be no more holy than any other gold. It was foolish, then, to suppose that that was more holy than the temple from which it received all the sanctity which it possessed. (e) "ye fools and blind"
[Ye] fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (r) Causes the gold which is dedicated to a holy use to be considered holy.