Matthew 23 · Verse 26

Matthew 23:26

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Matthew 23:26, King James Version

Matthew 23:26 in other translations

BSBBlind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
WEBYou blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
ASVThou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.
YLT‘Blind Pharisee! cleanse first the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside of them also may become clean.
DARBYBlind Pharisee, make clean first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that their outside also may become clean.
BBEYou blind Pharisee, first make clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may become equally clean.
WebsterThou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

What does Matthew 23:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
26. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also--In Luke (Lu 11:40) it is, "Ye fools, did not He that made that which is without make that which is within also?"--"He to whom belongs the outer life, and of right demands its subjection to Himself, is the inner man less His?" A remarkable example this of our Lord's power of drawing the most striking illustrations of great truths from the most familiar objects and incidents in life. To these words, recorded by Luke, He adds the following, involving a principle of immense value: "But rather give alms of such things as ye have, and behold, all things are clean unto you" (Lu 11:41). As the greed of these hypocrites was one of the most prominent features of their character (Lu 16:14), our Lord bids them exemplify the opposite character, and then their outside, ruled by this, would be beautiful in the eye of God, and their meals would be eaten with clean hands, though much fouled with the business of this everyday world. (See Ec 9:7).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 26. Cleanse first, etc. Let them be filled with the fruits of honest industry, and then the outside and the inside will be really clean. By this allusion to the cup and platter, he taught them that it was necessary to cleanse the heart first, that the external conduct might be really pure and holy.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 23:13-33

The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to the gospel of Christ, and therefore to the salvation of the souls of men. It is bad to keep away from Christ ourselves, but worse also to keep others from him. Yet it is no new thing for the show and form of godliness to be made a cloak to the greatest enormities. But dissembled piety will be reckoned double iniquity. They were very busy to turn souls to be of their party…

Read the full comment on Matthew 23:13-33 →

Matthew 23:26 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΦαρισαῖεPharisaiePhariseeG5330
τυφλέ,tuphleblind!G5185
καθάρισονkatharisondo cleanseG2511
πρῶτονprōtonfirstG4413
τὸtotheG3588
ἐντὸςentosinsideG1787
τοῦtouof theG3588
ποτηρίουpotērioucupG4221
καὶkaiandG2532
παροψίδοςparopsidosdishG3953
ἵναinathatG2443
γένηταιgenētaimay becomeG1096
καὶkaialsoG2532
τὸtotheG3588
ἐκτὸςektosoutsideG1622
αὐτοῦautouof itG846
καθαρόν.¶katharonclean.G2513

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 23:26

  • 2 Corinthians 7:1

    Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

  • James 4:8

    Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

  • Hebrews 10:22

    Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

  • Ezekiel 18:31

    Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

  • Isaiah 55:7

    Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

  • Luke 6:45

    A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

  • Matthew 12:33

    Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

  • Jeremiah 13:27

    I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

  • Jeremiah 4:14

    O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
cleanse.
12:33; Isa 55:7; Jer 4:14; 13:27; Eze 18:31; Lu 6:45; 2Co 7:1
Heb 10:22; Jas 4:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 23:25

    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.

  • Matthew 23:26

    Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

  • Matthew 23:27

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Read all of Matthew 23

Matthew 23:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¡Fariseo ciego, limpia primero lo de dentro del vaso y del plato, para que también lo de fuera se haga limpio!
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pharisien aveugle! nettoie premièrement le dedans de la coupe et du plat, afin que le dehors aussi soit net.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Blinder Pharisäer! reinige zuerst das Inwendige des Bechers und der Schüssel, auf daß auch das Auswendige derselben rein werde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Pharisæe cæce, munda prius quod intus est calicis, et paropsidis, ut fiat id, quod deforis est, mundum.