Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 23:16

"Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor." — Matthew 23:16 (ASV)

Whosoever shall swear, etc. (See Barnes on Matthew 5:33-37).

The temple. (See Barnes on Matthew 21:12).

It is nothing. It amounts to nothing. It is not binding.

The gold of the temple. This refers to either the golden vessels in the temple, the candlestick, etc., or the gold with which the doors and other parts of the temple were covered; or the gold in the treasury. This, it seems, they considered far more sacred than any other part of the temple, but it is not known why.

He is a debtor. He is bound to keep his oath. He is guilty if he violates it.