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The Fourth Woe (Woe to You Scribes and Pharisees)

The fourth woe was a scathing charge against their moral distinctions. An illustration of this confusing work of these "blind guides," was to be seen in their spiritual distinctions about the kind of oaths that are binding. They taught that the old general form of oaths was not binding, but only the new specific kind. Three instances of this lack of spiritual insight are cited:

"Swearing by the Temple was no real oath, but swearing by the gold in the Temple was valid." Of course the greater included the less, as any fool or even a blind man should know.

"An oath by the altar was nothing, while one by the gift on the altar was binding." They were blind not to understand that the altar was greater than the gift, and he who should swear by the altar swore not only by the altar itself but by all on the altar as well. Likewise, the one swearing by the Temple swore by it and the one dwelling in it; and the one swearing by the Throne of God, swore also by the one sitting on it. The teaching of Jesus was against all use of oaths. A man of God's word must be as good as his oath. These men were blind, deceiving themselves, and blotting out all moral lines and distinctions.