Matthew 23:26

Verse

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.

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.

Bible in Basic English

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

Douay-Rheims 1899

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

Free Bible Version

You blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, so that the outside will also be clean.

Geneva Bible 1599

Thou blinde Pharise, cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be cleane also.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

One Unity Resource Bible

You blind Pharisee [Separated], first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.

Translation for Translators

You blind Pharisees! First you must stop being greedy and selfish. Then you will be able to do what is righteous. That will be like cleaning the inside of a cup first. Then when you clean [MET] the outside of the cup, the cup will truly be clean.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

You blind Pharisee! Clean first the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may become clean also.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.

Young's Literal Translation

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

Context

Woes to Scribes and Pharisees

²⁵Woe 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. ²⁶Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.

Sermons

All That Jesus Taught Bible Study - Part 68

Zac Poonen

683

First Things First

A.W. Pink

Summary

In this verse, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their outward show of righteousness while neglecting inner purity. He criticizes their focus on external rituals and appearances, highlighting the importance of genuine transformation of the heart. Jesus emphasizes the need for true holiness that starts from within, rather than merely following religious traditions. This verse serves as a reminder to prioritize sincerity and authenticity in our relationship with God, rather than relying on superficial displays of piety.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also--In Luke (Luk 11:40) it is, "Ye fools, did not He that made that which is without make that which is within also?"--"He to whom belongs the outer life, and of right demands its subjection to Himself, is the inner man less His?" A remarkable example this of our Lord's power of drawing the most striking illustrations of great truths from the most familiar objects and incidents in life. To these words, recorded by Luke, He adds the following, involving a principle of immense value: "But rather give alms of such things as ye have, and behold, all things are clean unto you" (Luk 11:41). As the greed of these hypocrites was one of the most prominent features of their character (Luk 16:14), our Lord bids them exemplify the opposite character, and then their outside, ruled by this, would be beautiful in the eye of God, and their meals would be eaten with clean hands, though much fouled with the business of this everyday world. (See Ecc 9:7).

John Gill Bible Commentary

Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,.... It is much these men could bear to hear themselves so often called by this name; and it shows great courage in our Lord, so freely to reprove them, and expose their wickedness, who were men of so much credit and influence with the people: for ye are like unto whited sepulchres; or "covered with lime", as the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions, render it. For the Jews used to mark their graves with white lime, that they might be known: that so priests, Nazarites, and travellers, might avoid them, and not be polluted with them. This appears from various passages in their writings: "The vineyard of the fourth year, they marked with clods of earth, and an uncircumcised one with dust, , "and graves with chalk", mixed (with water) and poured (on them (x).) Of this marking of the graves, the reason of it, the time and manner of doing it, Maimonides (y) gives us this account: "Whoever finds a grave, or a dead carcass, or anything for the dead that defiles, by the tent he is obliged to put a mark upon it, that it may not be a stumbling to others; and on the intermediate days of a feast, they go out from the sanhedrim, to mark the graves.--With what do they mark? , "with chalk infused" in water, and poured upon the unclean place: they do not put the mark upon the top of the unclean place, (or exactly in it,) but so that it may stand out here and there, at the sides of it, that what is pure may not be corrupted; and they do not put the mark far from the place of the uncleanness, that they may not waste the land of Israel; and they do not set marks on those that are manifest, for they are known to all; but upon those that are doubtful, as a field in which a grave is lost, and places that are open, and want a covering. Now because when the rains fell, these marks were washed away, hence on the first of Adar (February) when they used to repair the highways, they also marked the graves with white lime, that they might be seen and known, and avoided; and so on their intermediate feast days (z): the reason why they made use of chalk, or lime, and with these marked their graves, was because it looked white like bones (a); so that upon first sight, it might be thought and known what it was for, and that a grave was there: hence this phrase, "whited sepulchres": which indeed appear beautiful outward; especially at a distance, and when new marked: but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness; worms and rottenness, which arise from the putrefied carcasses, and are very nauseous and defiling, (x) Misn. Maaser Sheni, c. 5. sect. 1. (y) Hilch. Tumath Meth, c. 8. sect. 9. (z) Misn. Shekalim, c. 1. sect. 1. & Moed Katon, c. 1. sect. 2. Maimon. & Bartenora in lb. (a) Jarchi in Misu. Moed Katan, c. 1. sect. 2. & Bartenora in Misn. Maaser Sheni, c. 5. sect. 1.

Matthew 23:26

Woes to Scribes and Pharisees

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.

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.

Bible in Basic English

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

Douay-Rheims 1899

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

Free Bible Version

You blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, so that the outside will also be clean.

Geneva Bible 1599

Thou blinde Pharise, cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be cleane also.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

One Unity Resource Bible

You blind Pharisee [Separated], first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

You blind Pharisee! Clean first the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may become clean also.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.

Young's Literal Translation

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

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Matthew 23:26

Verse

Context

Woes to Scribes and Pharisees

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Matthew 23:26

Woes to Scribes and Pharisees

All That Jesus Taught Bible Study - Part 68

First Things First

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes