Matthew 23:25 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus likens them to dishes scrubbed bright on the outside but filthy within, full of greed and self-indulgence.
What Does Matthew 23:25 Mean?
Using a homely image, Jesus pictures cups and plates polished on the outside while their inner surfaces, the part that holds food and drink, remain dirty. So it was with the leaders: outwardly pure, inwardly full of greed and uncontrolled desire gained through extortion.
The contrast between surface and depth runs through this whole section. Real cleanness, like real holiness, begins within and works outward. God is not deceived by an attractive exterior, for he sees the heart. The lesson searches every conscience: it is possible to look devout while harboring hidden corruption. Jesus calls his followers to let God cleanse the inner life first, knowing that a pure heart will naturally show itself in a pure life.
Matthew 23:25 in the Original Language
harpage (ἁρπαγή), 'extortion' -- plunder or robbery, the taking of what belongs to another through force or greed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 23:25
What does Matthew 23:25 mean?
Jesus likens them to dishes scrubbed bright on the outside but filthy within, full of greed and self-indulgence.