Matthew 23:25
New International Version
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

New Living Translation
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence!

English Standard Version
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Berean Standard Bible
Woe 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.

Berean Literal Bible
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of greed and intemperance.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

New American Standard Bible
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

NASB 1995
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

NASB 1977
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

Amplified Bible
“Woe to you, [self-righteous] scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and robbery and self-indulgence (unrestrained greed).

Christian Standard Bible
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence!

American Standard Version
Woe 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.

Contemporary English Version
You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, while inside there is nothing but greed and selfishness.

English Revised Version
Woe 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside they are full of greed and uncontrolled desires.

Good News Translation
"How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of your cup and plate, while the inside is full of what you have gotten by violence and selfishness.

International Standard Version
"How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but on the inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Majority Standard Bible
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and unrighteousness.

NET Bible
"Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

New Heart English Bible
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but within they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

Webster's Bible Translation
Woe to 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.

Weymouth New Testament
"Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you wash clean the outside of the cup or dish, while within they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

World English Bible
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you make clean the outside of the cup and the plate, and within they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.

Berean Literal Bible
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of greed and intemperance.

Young's Literal Translation
'Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye make clean the outside of the cup and the plate, and within they are full of rapine and incontinence.

Smith's Literal Translation
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup, and the side dish of sweet-meats, and within they are full of pillage and bad mixture.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you make clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within you are full of rapine and uncleanness.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you clean what is outside the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of avarice and impurity.

New American Bible
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.

New Revised Standard Version
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of extortion and iniquity.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, pretenders, who wash the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within are full of plunder and evil!
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and the plate; but within they are full of rapine and excess.

Godbey New Testament
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you purify the exterior of the cup and the plate, and within they are full of extortion and impurity.

Haweis New Testament
Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup, and of the dish, but within they are full of rapacity and intemperance.

Mace New Testament
wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye clean the outside of the cup, and of the plate, but within they are full of rapine and impurity.

Weymouth New Testament
"Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you wash clean the outside of the cup or dish, while within they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Worrell New Testament
"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish; but within they are full from extortion and excess!

Worsley New Testament
Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites; for ye clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within they are full of rapine and intemperance:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Woes to Scribes and Pharisees
24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 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.…

Cross References
Luke 11:39-41
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. / You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? / But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.

Mark 7:6-8
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ / You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.”

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Matthew 15:7-9
You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: / ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

Psalm 51:6
Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Jeremiah 4:14
Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?

Titus 1:15-16
To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Indeed, both their minds and their consciences are defiled. / They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.

Romans 2:28-29
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. / No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

2 Timothy 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

James 1:26-27
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. / Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

1 Peter 3:3-4
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, / but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

Isaiah 1:11-17
“What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. / When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? / Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

for.

Matthew 15:19,20
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: …

Mark 7:4
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

Luke 11:39,40
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness…

full.

Isaiah 28:7,8
But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment…

Jump to Previous
Alas Behaviour Clean Cleanse Cup Curse Desire Dish Excess Extortion False. Full Greed Hypocrites Incontinence Inside Outside Pharisees Plate Platter Rapacity Rapine Robbery Scribes Self-Indulgence Teachers Uncontrolled Unrighteousness Violent Wash Within Wo Woe
Jump to Next
Alas Behaviour Clean Cleanse Cup Curse Desire Dish Excess Extortion False. Full Greed Hypocrites Incontinence Inside Outside Pharisees Plate Platter Rapacity Rapine Robbery Scribes Self-Indulgence Teachers Uncontrolled Unrighteousness Violent Wash Within Wo Woe
Matthew 23
1. Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples
5. His disciples must beware of their ambition.
13. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem.














Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
This phrase begins with a strong denunciation, "Woe to you," which is a prophetic declaration of judgment and lament. The Greek word for "woe" is "ouai," expressing deep sorrow and impending doom. The "scribes and Pharisees" were religious leaders in Jewish society, known for their strict adherence to the Law. However, Jesus calls them "hypocrites," from the Greek "hypokritēs," meaning actors or pretenders. This term highlights their outward show of piety that masks inner corruption. Historically, the Pharisees were a sect that emerged during the intertestamental period, emphasizing oral traditions alongside the written Law. Jesus' rebuke is not just a personal attack but a critique of a system that prioritizes external compliance over internal transformation.

You clean the outside of the cup and dish
The imagery of cleaning the "outside of the cup and dish" is a metaphor for focusing on external appearances rather than internal purity. In the cultural context, ritual cleanliness was crucial, and the Pharisees were meticulous about such practices. The Greek word for "clean" is "katharizō," which means to purify or cleanse. This reflects the Pharisees' obsession with ceremonial purity. However, Jesus uses this metaphor to illustrate their superficial spirituality. Archaeological findings of ancient Jewish purification vessels underscore the importance of ritual cleanliness in that era, yet Jesus challenges the notion that external rituals can substitute for genuine righteousness.

but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence
The contrast between the clean exterior and the interior "full of greed and self-indulgence" is stark. The Greek word for "greed" is "harpagē," implying extortion or plunder, while "self-indulgence" is "akrasia," meaning lack of self-control or intemperance. This internal corruption is the antithesis of the holiness they profess. The historical context reveals that the Pharisees, despite their religious facade, were often criticized for exploiting their positions for personal gain. Scripturally, this echoes the prophetic calls for justice and mercy over empty rituals, as seen in passages like Micah 6:8. Jesus' critique is a call to align one's inner life with the outward profession of faith, emphasizing integrity and authenticity in spiritual practice.

(25) The outside of the cup and of the platter.--The latter word in the Greek indicates what we should call a "side-dish," as distinct from the "charger" of Matthew 14:11. The "outside" includes the inner surface. (Comp., as regards the practice, Mark 7:4.)

Are full of extortion and excess.--The two words point (1) to the source from which the viands and the wine came--the cup and the platter were filled with, or out of the proceeds of, extortion; (2) that to which they tended--they overflowed with unrestrained self-indulgence.

Verse 25. - The sixth woe - against merely external purification (Mark 7:4; Luke 11:39). Ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter. Thus the Lord typically denotes the Pharisees' external ceremonialism, their legal purity. They looked, so to speak, to the cleanliness of the outside of the cup that contained their drink, and the platter that held their food. Such cleansing would, of course, have no effect on the drink or meat itself. They are full of (γέμουσιν ἐξ, are full from) extortion and excess (ἀκρασίας). For this last word the manuscripts offer many variations, arising, probably, from its uucommoness. It seems, however, to be genuine. But we find it altered into "unrighteousness," "impurity," Vulgate, immunditia, "intemperance," "covetousness," "wickedness." The vessels are conceived as filled with contents acquired by violence and used without self-control.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Woe
Οὐαὶ (Ouai)
Interjection
Strong's 3759: Woe!, alas!, uttered in grief or denunciation. A primary exclamation of grief; 'woe'.

to you,
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

scribes
γραμματεῖς (grammateis)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1122: From gramma. A writer, i.e. scribe or secretary.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Pharisees,
Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

you hypocrites!
ὑποκριταί (hypokritai)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5273: From hupokrinomai; an actor under an assumed character, i.e. a dissembler

You clean
καθαρίζετε (katharizete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2511: To cleanse, make clean, literally, ceremonially, or spiritually, according to context. From katharos; to cleanse.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

outside
ἔξωθεν (exōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 1855: (a) from outside, from without, (b) outside, both as adj. and prep; with article: the outside. From exo; external(-ly).

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

cup
ποτηρίου (potēriou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4221: A drinking cup, the contents of the cup; fig: the portion which God allots.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

dish,
παροψίδος (paropsidos)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3953: Prop: a dainty side-dish; meton: a plate, dish, platter. From para and the base of opsarion; a side-dish.

but
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

inside
ἔσωθεν (esōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 2081: From eso; from inside; also used as equivalent to eso.

they are full
γέμουσιν (gemousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1073: To be full of. A primary verb; to swell out, i.e. Be full.

of
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

greed
ἁρπαγῆς (harpagēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 724: The act of plundering; plunder, spoil, robbery. From harpazo; pillage.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

self-indulgence.
ἀκρασίας (akrasias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 192: Incontinence, intemperance (in wide sense), lack of restraint. From akrates; want of self-restraint.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 23:25 Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 23:24
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