Matthew 23:26 Meaning and Explanation
“Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus prescribes the remedy: clean the inside first, and the outside will be clean as well.
What Does Matthew 23:26 Mean?
Speaking now in the singular, Jesus addresses the individual conscience directly. He answers the failure of the previous verse with its cure: begin with the inside. If the inner life is made clean, genuine purity will reach all the way to the surface.
This is the gospel's order of renewal. God works from the heart outward, transforming the inner person so that outward conduct flows from a changed nature rather than mere appearance. A cleansing that starts within is the only kind that lasts. Jesus invites every hearer to bring the hidden self to God for cleansing, trusting that when the heart is made new, the whole life follows. True righteousness is never painted on; it grows from within.
Matthew 23:26 in the Original Language
katharizo (καθαρίζω), 'cleanse' -- to make clean or pure, used for both ritual washing and inward moral purity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 23:26
What does Matthew 23:26 mean?
Jesus prescribes the remedy: clean the inside first, and the outside will be clean as well.