Matthew 23:16

Blind guides. Jesus refers, of course, to spiritual blindness (see on John 9:39-41). The Jews prided themselves that they were guides to the blind Gentiles (Rom. 2:19); in fact, they went to great lengths to win proselytes (Matt. 23:15). But for a blind man to assume the role of leading others who are blind is the height of folly. Jesus proceeds immediately to illustrate what He means by spiritual blindness (vs. 16-24). This section of Jesus’ indictment of the Jewish leaders is longer than any of the others recorded in ch. 23. He would therefore seem to be placing emphasis on this aspect of their hypocrisy.

The only remedy for spiritual blindness is spiritual “eyesalve” (Rev. 3:18), but this they refused to purchase from the only Merchant who offered it for sale. Herein lies a sober warning for the church today.

Swear. See on ch. 5:33-37.

It is nothing. This is the first illustration of the spiritual blindness of the scribes and Pharisees. Perhaps the reasoning behind the distinction here mentioned is that an oath to be binding must be particular. For example, according to the Talmud (Nedarim 14b, Soncino ed., p. 38), “If one vows by the Torah, his words are of no effect; by what is written therein, his vow is binding; by it and by what is written therein, his vow is binding.” Notice the expression “are of no effect” and compare the expression of Jesus “it is nothing.”

He is a debtor. “He is bound by his oath” to fulfill what he promised, or to accept responsibility for what he has sworn to.