Matthew 23:25

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Woe {G3759} unto you {G5213}, scribes {G1122} and {G2532} Pharisees {G5330}, hypocrites {G5273}! for {G3754} ye make clean {G2511} the outside {G1855} of the cup {G4221} and {G2532} of the platter {G3953}, but {G1161} within {G2081} they are full {G1073} of {G1537} extortion {G724} and {G2532} excess {G192}.

"Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P'rushim! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self indulgence.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess.

Commentary

In Matthew 23:25, Jesus delivers a sharp rebuke to the religious leaders of His day, the scribes and Pharisees. This verse is part of a series of "woes" where Christ exposes their profound hypocrisy, using the vivid imagery of a cup and platter cleaned only on the outside.

Context

This verse is situated within a larger discourse in Matthew 23, where Jesus publicly denounces the scribes and Pharisees for their spiritual pride, legalism, and hypocrisy. He condemns their focus on outward appearance and ritualistic observance while neglecting true righteousness and inner transformation. They were meticulous about ceremonial purity, such as washing hands and utensils, but their hearts were far from God. This particular "woe" highlights their superficiality, contrasting their external show of piety with their internal moral corruption, which was characterized by greed and lack of self-control.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy Unveiled: The central theme is the exposure of hypocrisy. Jesus calls them "hypocrites" (Greek: hypokritēs), a term referring to an actor who wears a mask, signifying their pretense of godliness. They presented a clean exterior to the world, but their true character was hidden.
  • Inward Purity vs. Outward Show: Jesus consistently emphasized the importance of the heart over mere external performance. While the Pharisees focused on making the "outside of the cup and of the platter" clean—a reference to ritual purity—Jesus points out that true defilement comes from within, as He teaches elsewhere about what truly defiles a person.
  • Spiritual Corruption: "Extortion and excess" reveal the internal moral decay. "Extortion" (Greek: harpagē) speaks to greed, robbery, or taking advantage of others, while "excess" (Greek: akratia) implies a lack of self-control, intemperance, or profligacy. Despite their religious veneer, their inner lives were dominated by covetousness and unrestrained desires.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "woe" is ouai, a strong exclamation of lament, sorrow, and often condemnation. It's not merely a statement of regret but a declaration of impending judgment. The term "hypocrites" (hypokritēs) literally means "under-critic" or "one who answers," evolving to describe a stage actor who speaks behind a mask, perfectly capturing the two-faced nature Jesus condemns. The contrast between the "outside" (exōthen) and "within" (esōthen) is crucial, emphasizing the spiritual reality God sees, rather than human perception.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless warning against superficial spirituality. It challenges believers to examine their own hearts and motives, asking whether their outward actions align with their inner character. It highlights:

  • Authenticity: True faith requires integrity, where one's private life and public demeanor are consistent. God desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6).
  • Prioritizing the Heart: We are reminded that God looks beyond outward appearances; He searches the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Genuine righteousness stems from a transformed inner being, not from merely following rules or performing religious rituals.
  • Warning Against Self-Deception: It's easy to deceive ourselves into believing we are spiritually sound based on external conformity, while harboring ungodly attitudes or desires. This verse calls us to continuous self-examination and repentance.
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 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

  • Luke 11:39

    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.

  • Luke 11:40

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

  • Matthew 15:19

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

  • Matthew 15:20

    These are [the things] which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

  • Isaiah 28:7

    But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble [in] judgment.

  • Isaiah 28:8

    For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no place [clean].

  • Mark 7:4

    And [when they come] from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, [as] the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
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