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Luke 11:39

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And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

And {G1161} the Lord {G2962} said {G2036} unto {G4314} him {G846}, Now {G3568} do {G2511} ye {G5210} Pharisees {G5330} make clean {G2511} the outside {G1855} of the cup {G4221} and {G2532} the platter {G4094}; but {G1161} your {G5216} inward part {G2081} is full {G1073} of ravening {G724} and {G2532} wickedness {G4189}.

However, the Lord said to him, “Now then, you P’rushim, you clean the outside of the cup and plate; but inside, you are full of robbery and wickedness.

“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

Commentary

Context of Luke 11:39

This verse is part of a sharp rebuke delivered by Jesus to a Pharisee who had invited Him to dinner. The Pharisee was inwardly surprised that Jesus did not perform the customary ceremonial washing of hands before the meal. Jesus, perceiving his thoughts, immediately confronted the deeper issue: the Pharisees' preoccupation with external cleanliness and ritualistic observance, while neglecting the much more critical state of their hearts and inner lives. This encounter highlights Jesus' consistent challenge to the religious leaders of His day, who often prioritized outward appearance over genuine spiritual purity and justice.

Key Themes in Luke 11:39

  • Hypocrisy vs. Sincerity: The central message is Jesus' condemnation of hypocrisy. The Pharisees meticulously cleaned the outside of their vessels, symbolizing their public display of righteousness, while their inner being was filled with corruption. Jesus emphasizes that God looks at the heart, not just outward actions.
  • Internal Purity Over External Rituals: Jesus consistently taught that true defilement comes from within (Matthew 15:19). This verse reinforces that no amount of external cleansing can compensate for an unregenerate or corrupt heart.
  • The Nature of Wickedness: The verse explicitly states the inward part is "full of ravening and wickedness," pointing to the insidious nature of greed, extortion, and moral depravity that can hide behind a facade of piety.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version uses the vivid terms "ravening and wickedness."

  • Ravening: The Greek word here is harpagē (ἁρπαγή), which signifies plunder, robbery, or extortion. It denotes a grasping, greedy, and violent disposition, suggesting that the Pharisees' inner lives were characterized by covetousness and taking advantage of others, often under the guise of religious practice.
  • Wickedness: The Greek term is ponēria (πονηρία), which refers to inherent badness, depravity, malice, or moral corruption. This isn't just a lack of good, but an active inclination towards evil.

The stark contrast between the "clean outside" and the "full of ravening and wickedness" inside powerfully illustrates the deep spiritual disconnect Jesus observed in their lives, a similar critique found in Matthew 23:25.

Practical Application

Luke 11:39 serves as a timeless warning and a call to genuine introspection for all believers:

  1. Examine Your Heart: This verse challenges us to look beyond outward appearances and religious activities to the true condition of our hearts. Are we more concerned with what others see or what God sees?
  2. Pursue Inner Transformation: True righteousness begins with an inner cleansing, a transformation of desires and motives. This involves confessing sin, seeking God's forgiveness, and allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and hearts.
  3. Beware of Spiritual Pride: It's easy to fall into the trap of self-righteousness, believing our good deeds or religious observances make us acceptable to God. This verse reminds us that true acceptance comes from a humble and contrite spirit (Psalm 51:17).
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 30:12 (5 votes)

    [There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness.

  • Titus 1:15 (5 votes)

    Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

  • Acts 8:21 (4 votes)

    Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

  • Acts 8:23 (4 votes)

    For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and [in] the bond of iniquity.

  • Matthew 15:19 (4 votes)

    For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

  • John 12:6 (4 votes)

    This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

  • Acts 5:3 (4 votes)

    But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?