Matthew 23:28 - Printer Friendly

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

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.

NASB: So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

CSB: In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

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

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

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

Burial sites that are painted or covered in artwork are only beautiful on the outside. Under the surface, they're literally full of death. This is the analogy Jesus is using for the religious leaders of Israel: the scribes and Pharisees. Their legalism and reputation give the appearance of life, but underneath it all is spiritual death (Matthew 23:13–27). Now the Lord drives His point home.

Outwardly, the Pharisees and scribes appear righteous. They seem to be keeping all the commands of Scripture, and the added rules and regulations they have imposed on the people. Inwardly, though, they are liars and rebels (Luke 12:1). Jesus again brings up the idea of "hypocrisy," which is derived from the Greek word for stage actors. No matter the scribes' and Pharisees' commitment to the public-facing rules of the law, their hearts remain unchanged. The most seemingly lawful of Israel's people are deeply unlawful in the place that matters most, their inner lives.

Jesus has called them hypocrites repeatedly (Matthew 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27). He now emphasizes they are full of this hypocrisy. It's coming from the inside out (Matthew 15:11, 18).

Matthew 23:13–36 contains seven layers of condemnation, from Jesus, towards the religious leaders of His era. Each of these is introduced with the word "woe," which is an exclamation like "oh!" or "alas!" Pronouncing God's judgment on these men, He repeatedly describes them as "blind" and "hypocrites." Convincing others of their views only adds victims to hell. They follow the letters of manmade law to the tiniest detail but miss the real meaning of Scripture: God's heart for justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Their outer appearance of righteousness hides inner lives full of greed, self-indulgence, hypocrisy, and lawlessness. Those in Jesus' generation will pay for many of the righteous people unjustly killed in the past.

After thoroughly dismantling scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees in debate, Jesus even more thoroughly condemns these religious leaders for their religious hypocrisy. They do all their religious acts and works to be seen and approved of by other people. Jesus pronounces God's judgment on the scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven "woe to you" statements. He repeatedly calls them "blind" and "hypocrites." He concludes with a lament for Jerusalem and her children who rejected His protection. God's judgment is coming.

Matthew 23 concludes Matthew's multi-chapter account of all of Jesus' interactions in the temple during the last week before His arrest and crucifixion. After silencing the religious leaders with parables and brilliant responses (Matthew 21—22), He pronounces God's judgment on the scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven "woe to you" statements. Jesus mourns for the judgment that will come on Jerusalem for her rejection of God. This leads Jesus to leave the temple, sadly remarking on its impending destruction (Matthew 24:1–2). As the disciples ask about this, Jesus begins an extended teaching on the end times in chapter 24.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.