You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean.
Parallel translations
- WEB You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
- KJV Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
- BSB Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
- ESV You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
- NKJV Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
- NLT You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus urges them to clean the inside first, so the outside may also be clean. It teaches that true righteousness begins with a transformed heart.
Overview
Genuine purity must start within; when the heart is cleansed, the outward life follows. The leaders had the order reversed, polishing the surface while the interior remained defiled. This anticipates the gospel, in which Christ purifies the heart by his Spirit, producing an outward life that is truly clean rather than merely appearing so.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 2 Cor 7:1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- Jas 4:8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Heb 10:22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
- Ezek 18:31Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel?
- Isa 55:7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
- Matt 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.
- Luke 6:45The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
- Jer 4:14Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
- Jer 13:27I have seen your abominations, even your adulteries, and your neighing, the lewdness of your prostitution, on the hills in the field. Woe to you, Jerusalem! You will not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 23:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.