Devine Scripture

Matthew 23:26

What does Matthew 23:26 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 23:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 23:26 means

Jesus directly instructs the "blind Pharisee" to cleanse the inside of the cup and platter first, so that the outside may also become clean. This teaching emphasizes the primacy of internal purity over outward appearance. True righteousness originates from within; if the heart is pure from greed and self-indulgence, then outward actions will naturally reflect that purity. This is a call for genuine transformation over superficial religious observances, which alone can make a person truly clean.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You blind Pharisee, first make clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may become equally clean.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Blind Pharisee! cleanse first the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside of them also may become clean.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Thou blind Pharisee, first make clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, that the outside may become clean.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Blind Pharisee, make clean first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that their outside also may become clean.

Context

This verse directly offers the solution to the hypocrisy highlighted in the fifth woe. It immediately follows the condemnation of their external cleansing masking internal corruption, providing a clear directive for true purification. This instruction to cleanse the *inside first* is crucial, as it fundamentally reverses the Pharisees' approach and sets the stage for the next woe, which uses another powerful visual metaphor (whitewashed tombs) to further illustrate this very same principle of outward appearance versus inward reality.

v.25Woe 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.

v.26This passage

v.27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Ezekiel 18:31

    Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

  • Jeremiah 13:27

    I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?

  • Hebrews 10:22

    let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water,

  • Luke 6:45

    The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

  • Matthew 12:33

    Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:1

    Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

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