TRV
Translation
King James Version
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Complete Jewish Bible
Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah.
Berean Standard Bible
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
American Standard Version
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
World English Bible Messianic
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Geneva Bible (1599)
So are ye also: for outwarde ye appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie.
Young's Literal Translation
so also ye outwardly indeed do appear to men righteous, and within ye are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 23,947 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers . Public domain.
Copy as
Origen of Alexandria (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 253
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
As above they are said to be full of extortion and excess, so here they are full of hypocrisy and iniquity, and are likened to dead men's bones, and all uncleanness.
For all feigned righteousness is dead, forasmuch as it is not done for God's sake; yea, rather it is no righteousness at all, any more than a dead man is a man, or an actor who represents any character is the man whom he represents. There is therefore within them so much of bones and uncleanness as are the good things that they wickedly pretend to. And they seem righteous outwardly, not in the eyes of such as the Scripture calls Gods, (Ps. 82:6.) but of such only as die like men.
Origen of AlexandriaAD 253
COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 24
As the scribes and Pharisees were previously called “full of robbery and intemperance,” likewise here they are said to be “full of hypocrisy and iniquity” and are compared with “the bones of the dead and all uncleanness.” Hypocrisy, because it is a counterfeit of the good, possesses nothing vital of the good it simulates, but is only its dead bones, so to speak.… If we listen with wisdom to what the present passage wants to tell us, we will understand that every simulated righteousness is a dead righteousness, hence no righteousness at all. Just as a dead man can still have the appearance of a man, even though he is in fact no longer a man, so also a dead chastity is no chastity. For any virtue is dead when it is not practiced for God but feigned on account of men. He who feigns righteousness can give the appearance of being righteous even though what he has is not righteousness at all but only a figment of righteousness, much like impersonators who can take on the appearance of another individual without thereby actually becoming the other person. The same is true concerning chastity. Because of this, men who do such things are appropriately compared with “whitewashed tombs which look beautiful from the outside,” for they give every external appearance of righteousness, even though they are full of “the bones of the dead” within.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Matthew
(Verse 27, 28.) Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful to people, but inside are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Just as he had shown with the cup and dish, that they were clean on the outside but dirty on the inside, he now repeats the same example with tombs: how tombs are whitewashed on the outside and decorated with marble and gold and different colors, but inside they are full of dead people's bones. This is how the perverse teachers, who teach one thing and do another, demonstrate cleanliness with their clothing and humility of speech, but inside they are full of all uncleanness and desire. Finally, this expresses more clearly the very thing itself, inferring: Thus you indeed appear just to men on the outside: but within, you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Jerome (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 420
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Sepulchres are whitened with lime without, and decorated with marble painted in gold and various colours, but within are full of dead men's bones. Thus crooked teachers who teach one thing and do another, affect purity in their dress, and humility in their speech, but within are full of all uncleanness, covetousness, and lust.
Desert FathersAD 500
The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks
The monks praised a brother to Antony. Antony went to him and tested him to see if he could endure being insulted. When he saw that he could not bear it, he said to him, ‘You are like a house with a highly decorated outside, but burglars have stolen all the furniture by the back door.’
Pseudo-Chrysostom (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 500
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Justly are the bodies of the righteous said to be temples, because in the body of the righteous the soul has dominion, as God in His temple; or because God Himself dwells in righteous bodies. But the bodies of sinners are called sepulchres of the dead, because the sinner's soul is dead in his body; for that cannot be deemed to be alive, which does no spiritual or living act.
But say, hypocrite, if it be good to be wicked, why do you not desire to seem that which you desire to be? For what it is shameful to seem, that it is more shameful to be; and what to seem is fair, that it is fairer to be. Either therefore be what you seem, or seem what you are.
Gregory the Dialogist (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 604
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
(Mor. xxvi. 32.) But before their strict Judge they cannot have the plea of ignorance, for by assuming in the eyes of men every form of sanctity, they witness against themselves that they are not ignorant how to live well.
Theophylact of OhridAD 1107
This analogy, too, has the same meaning as that of the preceding. For they were eager to appear comely in their external condition, just like tombs that are whitened with lime and chalk, but within they are full of every uncleanness, and of dead and rotting works.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Matthew 23:28 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
CNTR CollationThe earliest Greek manuscripts of this verse, collated letter by letter.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Matthew 23:28 delivers Jesus' incisive condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees, exposing the profound chasm between their meticulously crafted external religious façade and their deeply corrupted inner reality. This verse encapsulates His core critique: while they presented themselves as righteous and pious before others, their hearts were inwardly consumed by deceit, moral depravity, and a fundamental disregard for God's true justice and mercy. It serves as a powerful indictment of spiritual pretense, highlighting God's demand for authentic, heart-level transformation over mere outward observance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Matthew 23:28 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey Jesus' powerful indictment. The most prominent is Antithesis, creating a stark contrast between "outwardly appear righteous" and "within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." This direct opposition highlights the fundamental disconnect between the Pharisees' public persona and their private reality, underscoring the central theme of hypocrisy. This verse also functions as a direct Application and Summary of the preceding Metaphor found in Matthew 23:27. By explicitly stating that they are "full of hypocrisy and iniquity" after likening them to beautiful but internally corrupt tombs, Jesus provides the interpretive key to His earlier imagery. Furthermore, the use of Hyperbole in "full of hypocrisy and iniquity" emphasizes the pervasive and overwhelming nature of their inner corruption, suggesting that their entire being was saturated with these vices, not just incidentally affected by them. The direct Second-Person Address ("ye also") makes the condemnation personal and inescapable for the religious leaders.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 23:28 is a profound theological statement on the nature of true righteousness and the insidious danger of spiritual pretense. It underscores God's unwavering focus on the heart, rather than on external displays or human approval. Jesus' condemnation reveals that religious activity, no matter how meticulous or outwardly impressive, is an abomination to God if it is not rooted in genuine sincerity, humility, and a transformed inner life. This verse serves as a timeless warning that God sees beyond the façade, discerning the true motives and condition of the soul. It challenges the very notion that one can earn God's favor through works or outward conformity, emphasizing instead the necessity of a right relationship with Him that impacts one's core being.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 23:28 serves as a timeless mirror, inviting every believer to an honest and searching examination of their own spiritual walk. It challenges us to look beyond the superficial and to probe the true condition of our hearts. In a world often driven by image and perception, this verse reminds us that genuine faith is not about presenting a perfect exterior to others, but about cultivating an authentic, Spirit-transformed inner life before God. Are our acts of worship, service, and generosity truly motivated by love for God and neighbor, or are they subtly influenced by a desire for recognition, praise, or self-validation? The call here is for integrity—for our inner convictions to align seamlessly with our outward actions. This requires a humble willingness to confess our hidden faults, to expose our own "hypocrisy and iniquity" to the cleansing light of Christ, and to continually invite the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out, making our inner reality match the righteousness we profess.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of Jesus calling the Pharisees "hypocrites"?
Answer: Jesus' use of the term "hypocrite" (Greek: hypokrites) is highly significant because it originally referred to an actor wearing a mask to play a role on stage. By labeling the Pharisees as hypocrites, Jesus was directly accusing them of performing a religious act, feigning piety and righteousness for public consumption, while their true inner character was corrupt and unrighteous. This accusation cut to the core of their spiritual deception, highlighting the stark contrast between their outward show and their inward reality. It underscored that God is concerned with the heart and genuine devotion, not with mere external adherence to rules or the pursuit of human applause.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 23:28, with its piercing condemnation of hypocrisy and iniquity, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ Himself. Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of true righteousness, utterly devoid of any hypocrisy or inner corruption. Unlike the Pharisees who "outwardly appear righteous unto men" but were inwardly defiled, Jesus lived a life of perfect integrity, where His inner being was in complete harmony with the Father's will, as seen in His declaration, "I do always those things that please him". He perfectly fulfilled the Law, not merely in outward observance, but from a heart of pure love and obedience (Matthew 5:17). Furthermore, Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross provides the only means by which humanity, inherently "full of hypocrisy and iniquity" due to sin, can be truly cleansed and transformed from the inside out. He offers a new covenant where the law is written not on stone tablets but on the heart (Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 8:10), enabling genuine righteousness through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus not only exposed the spiritual bankruptcy of outward religiosity but also provided the divine solution for true inner holiness, inviting all to come to Him for a heart that is truly clean and pleasing to God (John 15:3).