Matthew 23 28

Matthew 23:28 kjv

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matthew 23:28 nkjv

Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23:28 niv

In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Matthew 23:28 esv

So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23:28 nlt

Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23 verses

Matthew 23 28 Meaning

Matthew 23:28 encapsulates Jesus' indictment of the scribes and Pharisees, revealing the profound chasm between their public persona and their true spiritual state. The verse highlights their outward appearance of strict religious observance and righteousness, meticulously maintained for human admiration, yet contrasts it sharply with their internal reality. Jesus exposes their inner being as being completely filled with hypocrisy, meaning a deceptive pretense, and lawlessness, which signifies a pervasive disregard for God's true will and commands, despite their claims of upholding the Law. This verse underscores that God scrutinizes the heart, not just external actions or appearances.

Matthew 23 28 Context

Matthew 23 presents Jesus' final and most intense public denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees in Jerusalem, shortly before His crucifixion. This chapter is a series of seven "woes" pronounced upon them, systematically exposing their hypocrisy, pride, and spiritual blindness. Verse 28 serves as the conclusion of the sixth woe (Matt 23:27-28), which likened them to "whitewashed tombs." Culturally, whitewashing graves was a practice to prevent accidental defilement for those walking near, highlighting the visible cleanliness covering hidden death and decay. The Pharisees, known for their meticulous adherence to Mosaic Law and extensive oral traditions, projected an image of exemplary piety, earning high regard from the common people. They emphasized outward ritual purity, tithing, and visible demonstrations of righteousness. Jesus' condemnation was a direct challenge to their religious system, which prioritized external conformity over internal spiritual transformation, thus establishing an indirect polemic against a superficial approach to God and an idolatry of human praise. Their teachings and traditions, while seemingly devout, had become a heavy burden to the people and obscured the true heart of God's law.

Matthew 23 28 Word analysis

• In the same way (οὕτως - houtōs): Connects this verse directly to the preceding analogy of "whitewashed tombs." It implies a parallel in the nature of deception: just as a tomb looks clean externally but hides corruption, so do they.
• on the outside (ἔξωθεν - exōthen): Refers to the visible, public aspect of their lives and religious practice. It points to what is perceived by human eyes.
• you appear (φαίνεσθε - phainesthe): From phainō, meaning "to shine," "to appear," "to seem." It suggests a mere semblance or an outward manifestation that does not necessarily reflect an inner reality. It's about what is displayed or seen by others.
• to people (τοῖς ἀνθρώποις - tois anthrōpois): Specifies the audience of their religious performance. Their actions were motivated by the desire for human approval and recognition, rather than divine approval.
• as righteous (δίκαιοι - dikaioi): Refers to being just, morally correct, or in right standing. This is the virtue they claimed and displayed outwardly through their adherence to rituals and traditions. From dikē, meaning "justice" or "right."
• but (δὲ - de): A strong adversative conjunction that introduces a stark contrast, shifting from outward appearance to inner truth.
• on the inside (ἔσωθεν - esōthen): Denotes the inner being, the heart, the true motives, thoughts, and spiritual condition, which is unseen by human eyes.
• you are full of (μεστοί ἐστε - mestoi este): "Full" implies complete saturation or overflowing. It signifies that their inner being is entirely consumed by the stated qualities, leaving no room for genuine piety.
• hypocrisy (ὑποκρίσεως - hypokriseōs): From hypokritēs (an actor on a stage). It describes the deliberate pretense of having a character, beliefs, or virtues that one does not possess. It's about play-acting for the benefit of an audience, a fundamental insincerity in one's spiritual life.
• and (καὶ - kai): Connects the two corrupting elements, indicating that both were simultaneously prevalent in their inner being.
• lawlessness (ἀνομίας - anomias): Formed from a- (without) and nomos (law). This word signifies not merely breaking a law occasionally, but a fundamental rejection or active disregard for God's divine and moral standards. It indicates a spiritual state that is actively opposed to or operates without reference to God's will. It denotes a profound rebellion against righteousness.

Words-group analysis:

• "In the same way, on the outside you appear... but on the inside you are full of": This phrase sets up the profound dichotomy between outer show and inner reality, central to Jesus' condemnation. It highlights a deliberate deception rather than accidental failings.
• "appear to people as righteous": This emphasizes that their concern was human perception and honor, validating themselves through public performance, rather than genuine alignment with God's righteousness.
• "full of hypocrisy and lawlessness": This pairing is crucial. "Hypocrisy" describes their character as a deceptive façade, while "lawlessness" defines the nature of the evil it conceals—a rebellion against divine moral order, not just breaking individual rules. Their "lawlessness" manifested precisely through their supposed zealous adherence to external religious duties.

Matthew 23 28 Bonus section

• The theme of internal purity versus external observance is central to Jesus' teachings throughout the Gospels, often contrasting with the prevailing religious norms of His day (e.g., Matt 15:10-20 on what defiles a person).
• The term anomia (lawlessness) carries eschatological significance in the New Testament, linked to the "man of lawlessness" and the spiritual rebellion that precedes the return of Christ (2 Thess 2:7-8). Jesus' use of it here suggests that the Pharisees embodied a spirit antagonistic to divine order.
• The condemnation of "workers of lawlessness" also appears in Matt 7:23, where Jesus disavows those who performed mighty works in His name but lacked true obedience to God. This underscores that spiritual giftedness or public religious acts do not substitute for a righteous heart.
• The "woes" in Matthew 23 reveal Jesus' divine insight into the hidden intentions and true spiritual condition of those who positioned themselves as God's representatives. It shows that God sees beyond any human façade.

Matthew 23 28 Commentary

Matthew 23:28 provides the stinging summary of Jesus' "Woe" against the Pharisees: their religious practices, esteemed by men, were nothing more than a meticulously crafted masquerade. While they projected an image of devout piety and scrupulous adherence to the Law, their hearts were spiritually dead, overflowing with pretense and rebellion against God's actual will. Their "righteousness" was skin-deep, designed to impress onlookers and consolidate their own authority, rather than flowing from a regenerated spirit devoted to truth and love. The pairing of "hypocrisy" and "lawlessness" is profound: "hypocrisy" indicates their false identity and intentions, while "lawlessness" speaks to the active ungodliness and disregard for divine standards that permeated their very core, even as they boasted of the Law. Jesus consistently looked beyond mere observance to the motivation of the heart, exposing how religious zeal, when devoid of inner transformation, becomes a powerful vehicle for sin and a hindrance to others entering the kingdom. This serves as a timeless warning that genuine faith involves radical integrity and a heart fully yielded to God's transforming power.