Luke 11:40

KJV

[Ye] fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?

KJV (with Strong's)

Ye fools {G878}, did {G4160} not {G3756} he that made {G4160} that which {G3588} is without {G1855} make {G4160} that which {G3588} is within {G2081} also {G2532}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Fools! Didn’t the One who made the outside make the inside too?

Berean Standard Bible

You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?

American Standard Version

Ye foolish ones, did not he that made the outside make the inside also?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jesus delivers a scathing indictment of the Pharisees' spiritual blindness, exposing their hypocritical focus on outward ritual purity while neglecting the inner state of their hearts. Through a penetrating rhetorical question, He challenges their superficial understanding of righteousness, asserting that the God who created the external world and the physical body is equally, if not more, concerned with the internal disposition of the human spirit, mind, and motives. This verse serves as a foundational declaration of God's holistic standard for true piety, emphasizing that genuine devotion must originate from a transformed heart, not merely from external conformity or ceremonial observance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This sharp rebuke from Jesus is situated within a broader discourse on hypocrisy and true righteousness, immediately following an invitation to dine at a Pharisee's house. The Pharisee expresses surprise that Jesus did not perform the customary ritual handwashing before the meal ([Luke 11:38](/luke/11-38 "Luke 11:38 - Pharisee's Surprise")). Jesus seizes this opportunity to expose the deeper spiritual issue, launching into a series of "woes" against the Pharisees and legal experts. He begins by critiquing their meticulous cleansing of the outside of cups and dishes while their inner lives remain full of "greed and wickedness" ([Luke 11:39](/luke/11-39 "Luke 11:39 - Jesus' Critique of Outward Cleansing")). [Luke 11:40](/luke/11-40 "Luke 11:40 - The Creator's Holistic Standard") serves as the theological bedrock for this critique, establishing God's comprehensive concern for both the visible and invisible aspects of human existence. The subsequent woes ([Luke 11:42-52](/luke/11-42-52 "Luke 11:42-52 - Woes Against the Pharisees and Lawyers")) further elaborate on their misprioritization, highlighting their tithing of herbs while neglecting justice and the love of God, their love of prominent seats, and their burdening of others with heavy loads.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Jewish society, particularly among the Pharisees, placed a high emphasis on ritual purity laws derived from the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. These traditions, often codified in works like the Mishnah, detailed precise requirements for ceremonial washing, dietary laws, and Sabbath observance. The act of washing hands before a meal, as mentioned in [Luke 11:38](/luke/11-38 "Luke 11:38 - Pharisee's Surprise"), was a non-biblical, rabbinic tradition intended to ensure ritual purity. While the Old Testament certainly commanded purity, the Pharisees often extended these commands to an extreme, focusing on external conformity as the primary measure of righteousness. This emphasis on outward appearance and adherence to tradition often overshadowed the weightier matters of the Law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness, as Jesus frequently pointed out ([Matthew 23:23](/matthew/23-23 "Matthew 23:23 - The Weightier Matters of the Law")). Jesus's challenge in [Luke 11:40](/luke/11-40 "Luke 11:40 - The Creator's Holistic Standard") directly confronts this cultural preoccupation, asserting a divine standard that penetrates beyond the superficial.
* **Key Themes:** The central themes illuminated by [Luke 11:40](/luke/11-40 "Luke 11:40 - The Creator's Holistic Standard") are multifaceted. Firstly, it powerfully exposes **Hypocrisy**, a recurring target of Jesus's condemnation throughout the Gospels. The Pharisees' meticulous attention to external cleanliness while harboring inner corruption epitomizes this spiritual duplicity, a theme also prominent in the "woes" of [Matthew 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees"). Secondly, the verse underscores the critical distinction between **Inward vs. Outward Righteousness**. Jesus argues that God, as the Creator, is concerned with the entirety of a person—both their visible actions and their invisible motivations and heart condition. True righteousness, therefore, must originate from a transformed heart, not merely from outward conformity or ritualistic observance. This aligns with Old Testament prophetic calls for inner transformation, such as in [Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant Written on Hearts") and [Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26-27 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - A New Heart and Spirit"). Finally, the rhetorical question highlights **God's Holistic Creation and Standard**. By emphasizing that the same God made both "that which is without" and "that which is within," Jesus asserts God's comprehensive knowledge, authority, and concern over every aspect of human life. He is not fooled by external displays if the heart is not right, for He judges the whole person.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **fools (Greek, _áphrōn'_):** From the negative particle 'A' and 'phrēn' (mind), this term literally means "mindless," "senseless," or "unwise." It is not merely an insult but a diagnostic term indicating a lack of understanding or discernment, particularly regarding spiritual truth and divine priorities. Jesus uses it to highlight the Pharisees' profound spiritual blindness and their failure to grasp what truly matters to God, despite their religious learning and outward piety. Their folly lay in prioritizing human traditions and external observances over genuine inner devotion and a transformed heart.
* **made (Greek, _poiéō'_):** This verb is broad in its application, meaning "to make," "to do," "to produce," or "to create." In this context, it refers to God's act of creation. Jesus uses it to emphasize God's authorship and sovereignty over all aspects of existence. The same divine power and wisdom that fashioned the visible, external world and the human body also fashioned the invisible, internal realm of the human spirit, mind, and will. This highlights God's comprehensive claim and concern over the entire person.
* **without (Greek, _éxōthen'_):** Meaning "from outside," "external," or "outwardly." In the context of the Pharisee's ritual washing and the cleansing of cups, this refers to the physical, visible, and superficial aspects of life and religious practice. It encompasses outward actions, appearances, and adherence to external rules or traditions. Jesus uses this to represent the Pharisees' primary area of concern and focus.
* **within (Greek, _ésōthen'_):** Meaning "from inside," "inwardly," or "within." This term refers to the internal, invisible, and spiritual aspects of a person: the heart, mind, motives, thoughts, and true character. Jesus contrasts this with "without" to emphasize that God's primary concern is with the state of the inner person, the source from which all outward actions ultimately flow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ye fools,"**: Jesus's direct and strong address to the Pharisees. This is not a casual insult but a prophetic denunciation, labeling them as spiritually senseless or lacking wisdom because they failed to understand God's true priorities. Their religious devotion, though outwardly meticulous, was fundamentally misguided due to their inner corruption.
* **"did not he that made that which is without"**: This is the first part of a rhetorical question. "He that made" refers to God, the Creator. "That which is without" refers to the external, visible aspects of life and religious practice—the physical body, outward actions, and ceremonial observances (like washing hands or cups). Jesus implies that God is indeed the author of all creation, including the external world and the human form.
* **"make that which is within also?"**: This completes the rhetorical question, demanding an affirmative answer. "That which is within" refers to the internal, invisible aspects of a person—the heart, mind, motives, and spirit. By posing this question, Jesus asserts that the same God who created the external is equally, if not more, concerned with the internal. The implication is that if God created both, then He has authority and concern over both, and true righteousness must encompass both, starting from the inside.

#### Literary Devices
[Luke 11:40](/luke/11-40 "Luke 11:40 - The Creator's Holistic Standard") primarily employs a powerful **Rhetorical Question**. Jesus does not ask for information but uses the question "did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?" to make an emphatic statement that requires no verbal answer, only profound realization. This device forces the listeners (and readers) to confront an undeniable truth: God's sovereignty extends to both the visible and invisible aspects of human existence. Furthermore, the verse utilizes stark **Contrast** between "that which is without" and "that which is within," highlighting the Pharisees' misprioritization of external ritual over internal purity. This contrast underscores the central theme of the passage. There is also an element of **Irony** in Jesus's address; those who considered themselves wise and righteous are called "fools" by the very embodiment of divine wisdom, precisely because their wisdom was superficial and failed to grasp God's true nature and demands.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Luke 11:40](/luke/11-40 "Luke 11:40 - The Creator's Holistic Standard") is a profound theological statement on the nature of true righteousness and God's holistic standard. It dismantles the notion that external conformity or ritualistic observance alone can satisfy divine requirements. By asserting that the Creator of the external is also the Creator of the internal, Jesus emphasizes that God's concern is not merely with human actions but with the heart from which those actions spring. This aligns with the consistent biblical emphasis on the heart as the wellspring of life and the true seat of spiritual devotion. God desires truth in the inward parts, not just outward displays. This verse challenges all forms of religious hypocrisy, calling believers to an authentic faith where inner transformation precedes and informs outward expression.

* [1 Samuel 16:7](/1_samuel/16-7 "1 Samuel 16:7 - The Lord Looks at the Heart")
* [Proverbs 4:23](/proverbs/4-23 "Proverbs 4:23 - Guard Your Heart")
* [Matthew 23:25-28](/matthew/23-25-28 "Matthew 23:25-28 - Woes on Hypocrisy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Luke 11:40](/luke/11-40 "Luke 11:40 - The Creator's Holistic Standard") serves as a timeless mirror for self-examination, urging us to look beyond superficial religiosity to the true condition of our hearts. In a world often preoccupied with appearances, social media profiles, and external metrics of success or piety, Jesus's words remind us that God sees beyond the façade. Are our spiritual practices—church attendance, Bible reading, prayer, acts of service—mere external rituals, or do they flow from a genuine, transformed heart? The danger of hypocrisy is not limited to the Pharisees; it is a perennial human temptation to prioritize looking good over being good. This verse calls us to pursue an authentic faith where our inner world—our thoughts, motives, desires, and character—is brought into alignment with God's will, just as much as our outward actions. True spiritual health begins within, leading to a life that genuinely honors God in every sphere.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prioritizing outward appearance or performance over the true condition of my heart?**
* **How does the understanding that God created both "without" and "within" influence my approach to spiritual growth and self-examination?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more authentic, inward righteousness that is pleasing to God?**

### FAQ

**What does Jesus mean by "fools" in this context?**

Answer: When Jesus calls the Pharisees "fools" (Greek: _áphrōn'_), He is not merely insulting them. Instead, He is making a diagnostic statement about their spiritual blindness and lack of understanding. An _áphrōn'_ is someone who is senseless, unwise, or lacking discernment, particularly regarding spiritual truth. Despite their religious knowledge and meticulous adherence to external laws, the Pharisees failed to grasp God's true priorities—namely, that genuine righteousness stems from a transformed heart, not just outward ritual. Their folly lay in their misprioritization, valuing human traditions and external cleanliness over the inner purity and love for God that truly matters. This rebuke is a call for them to recognize their profound spiritual misjudgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Luke 11:40](/luke/11-40 "Luke 11:40 - The Creator's Holistic Standard") finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied the "within" and the "without" in seamless unity. Unlike the hypocritical Pharisees, Jesus's outward actions were always a perfect reflection of His pure and righteous heart. He did not merely conform to external laws; He fulfilled the spirit of the Law from a place of perfect love and obedience to the Father ([Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")). Furthermore, Christ's mission was precisely to address the problem of the "within" – the sin-corrupted human heart. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, He provides the means for inner cleansing and transformation, offering a new heart and a new spirit to all who believe ([Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart and Spirit")). The New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ's blood, moves beyond external regulations to an internal law written on the heart by the Holy Spirit ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant Written on Hearts")). Thus, Jesus not only exposes the folly of externalism but also provides the divine solution for true, holistic righteousness, making it possible for believers to be made clean both "without" and "within" through His redemptive work and the indwelling Spirit ([Titus 3:5](/titus/3-5 "Titus 3:5 - Washing of Regeneration and Renewal of the Holy Spirit")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 12:20

But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

1 Corinthians 15:36

[Thou] fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:

Matthew 23:26

[Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Proverbs 8:5

O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Genesis 2:7

And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Proverbs 1:22

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

Hebrews 12:9

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?