New International VersionIn the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
New Living TranslationOutwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.
English Standard VersionSo you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Berean Standard BibleIn the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Berean Literal BibleThus indeed outwardly you also appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
King James BibleEven so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
New King James VersionEven so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
New American Standard BibleSo you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
NASB 1995“So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
NASB 1977“Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Legacy Standard BibleIn this way, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Amplified BibleSo you, also, outwardly seem to be just and upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Christian Standard BibleIn the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Holman Christian Standard BibleIn the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
American Standard VersionEven so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Contemporary English VersionThat's what you are like. Outside you look good, but inside you are evil and only pretend to be good.
English Revised VersionEven so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationSo on the outside you look as though you have God's approval, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Good News TranslationIn the same way, on the outside you appear good to everybody, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and sins.
International Standard VersionIn the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
NET BibleIn the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
New Heart English BibleEven so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Webster's Bible TranslationThus ye also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Weymouth New TestamentThe same is true of you: outwardly you seem to the human eye to be good and honest men, but, within, you are full of insincerity and disregard of God's Law. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIn the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
World English BibleEven so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionso also you outwardly indeed appear to men righteous, and within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Berean Literal BibleThus indeed outwardly you also appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Young's Literal Translation so also ye outwardly indeed do appear to men righteous, and within ye are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Smith's Literal TranslationSo also ye without truly appear just to men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSo you also outwardly indeed appear to men just; but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Catholic Public Domain VersionSo also, you certainly appear to men outwardly to be just. But inwardly you are filled with hypocrisy and iniquity.
New American BibleEven so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
New Revised Standard VersionSo you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleEven so, from the outside you appear to men to be righteous, but from within you are full of iniquity and hypocrisy.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishSo also you from the outside appear to the children of men as righteous, and from within are filled with evil and hypocrisy. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentSo also you outwardly appear to men to be just, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Godbey New TestamentSo you also appear unto the people indeed righteous, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Haweis New Testament
And just so, ye without indeed appear to men righteous, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mace New Testament
just so ye put on an air of probity in the sight of men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Weymouth New Testament
The same is true of you: outwardly you seem to the human eye to be good and honest men, but, within, you are full of insincerity and disregard of God's Law.
Worrell New Testament
So ye also outwardly, indeed, appear righteous to men; but within ye are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Worsley New Testament
so do ye likewise outwardly appear to mento be righteous, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Woes to Scribes and Pharisees… 27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28In the same way,on the outsideyouappear to berighteous,buton the insideyou arefullof hypocrisyandwickedness.29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous.…
Cross References Matthew 15:7-9You 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.’”
Luke 11:39-44Then 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 7:6-7Jesus 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.’
Romans 2:28-29A 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.
Isaiah 29:13Therefore 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 33:31So 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.
1 Samuel 16:7But 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.”
Jeremiah 9:8Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
2 Timothy 3:5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
Titus 1:16They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
James 1:26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
1 Peter 2:1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.
Proverbs 26:23-26Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. / A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. / When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. ...
Psalm 55:21His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
Isaiah 58:2-4For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” / “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. / You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.
Treasury of Scripture Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. ye also. Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: forthe LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Psalm 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hiddenpart thou shalt make me to know wisdom. but. Matthew 12:34,35 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh… Matthew 15:19,20 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: … Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, … Jump to Previous AppearDisregardEyeFullGod'sGoodHonestHumanHypocrisyIniquityInsideInsincerityInwardlyLawOutsideOutwardlyRighteousRighteousnessSeemTrue.WayWithinWrongdoingJump to Next AppearDisregardEyeFullGod'sGoodHonestHumanHypocrisyIniquityInsideInsincerityInwardlyLawOutsideOutwardlyRighteousRighteousnessSeemTrue.WayWithinWrongdoingMatthew 23 1.Jesus admonishes the people to follow good doctrine, not bad examples5.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.In the same wayThis phrase connects the current statement to the preceding verses where Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for their outward displays of piety. It highlights a pattern of behavior that is consistent with their previous actions. The context is Jesus' series of "woes" against the religious leaders, emphasizing their failure to live up to the spiritual standards they profess. on the outside you appear to be righteous
The Pharisees and scribes were known for their strict adherence to the Law and their public displays of religious devotion. This appearance of righteousness was often demonstrated through meticulous observance of rituals and traditions. However, Jesus points out that this external appearance does not reflect their true spiritual state. This critique aligns with Old Testament warnings against superficial worship, such as inIsaiah 29:13, where God condemns those who honor Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness
Jesus exposes the internal corruption of the religious leaders, contrasting their outward appearance with their inner reality. Hypocrisy, in this context, refers to the act of pretending to be virtuous or religious while concealing one's true motives or character. Wickedness encompasses moral corruption and evil intentions. This internal state is reminiscent of the "whitewashed tombs" metaphor used earlier in the chapter, where Jesus describes the leaders as clean on the outside but full of dead bones and impurity within. This critique is a call to genuine repentance and transformation, echoing the prophetic tradition of calling Israel back to heartfelt obedience to God. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, addressing the scribes and Pharisees, highlighting their hypocrisy. 2. Scribes and PhariseesJewish religious leaders known for their strict adherence to the law and traditions, yet criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy. 3. JerusalemThe city where Jesus delivered this discourse, a central place for Jewish worship and teaching. 4. The TempleWhile not directly mentioned in this verse, it is the backdrop for many of Jesus' teachings in Matthew 23. 5. The Disciples and the CrowdThe audience listening to Jesus' rebuke of the religious leaders, learning from His teachings. Teaching Points The Danger of HypocrisyHypocrisy is a grave sin that Jesus condemns. It involves pretending to be something we are not, especially in matters of faith. True Righteousness is InternalGod values the condition of our hearts over our external actions. We must cultivate a sincere and genuine faith. Self-ExaminationRegularly examine your own life for areas of hypocrisy. Are there ways in which you present yourself as more righteous than you are? Authentic Faith in ActionOur actions should reflect our internal beliefs. Strive to align your behavior with your faith in Christ. Seek God's TransformationPray for the Holy Spirit to transform your heart, leading to genuine righteousness and integrity. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Matthew 23:28?
2.How can we avoid being "outwardly righteous" but "inwardly full of hypocrisy"?
3.What steps can we take to align our inner and outer lives?
4.How does Matthew 23:28 relate to James 1:22 about being doers of the word?
5.In what ways can we examine our hearts for hidden sinfulness?
6.How can we encourage others to pursue genuine righteousness in their lives?
7.How does Matthew 23:28 challenge the authenticity of religious leaders' righteousness?
8.What historical context influenced Jesus' criticism in Matthew 23:28?
9.How does Matthew 23:28 relate to the theme of hypocrisy in the Bible?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 23?
11.Are you avoiding the behavior of hypocrites?
12.Are you avoiding the behavior of hypocrites?
13.What did Jesus mean by 'whitewashed tombs'?
14.What defines being a child of hell?What Does Matthew 23:28 Mean In the same way• Jesus is drawing a direct parallel to the preceding illustration of whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27). • Just as a freshly painted tomb hides death inside, so religious showmanship disguises spiritual rot. • Cross references:Luke 11:44 where Jesus refers to unseen graves people walk over;Ezekiel 13:10–11 where whitewash covers crumbling walls yet cannot stop collapse.
On the outside you appear to be righteous• The Pharisees’ rituals—tithing, fasting, lengthy prayers—looked impressive (Matthew 6:1–5). • People accepted the façade because it matched cultural expectations of holiness, much like Saul’s imposing stature once impressed Israel (1 Samuel 9:2; 16:7). • External righteousness without inner reality repeats the warning ofIsaiah 29:13, “These people draw near with their mouths… yet their hearts are far from Me.”
But on the inside• God always starts with the heart (Proverbs 4:23;Psalm 51:6). • The inward condition of the Pharisees showed no real love for God or neighbor (Matthew 22:37–40). • Jesus exposes the hidden motives—ambition for honor (Matthew 23:5–7) and craving for control (John 11:48).
Full of hypocrisy and wickedness• “Hypocrisy” pictures stage-actors wearing masks: a performance, not reality (Matthew 15:7–9). • “Wickedness” covers the active sin concealed beneath the mask—greed, injustice, self-indulgence (Luke 11:39). • Instead of repenting, the Pharisees planned Jesus’ death (Matthew 12:14), proving the heart’s corruption. • The verse warns believers to examine themselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) so that profession and practice match (James 1:22–25).
summaryMatthew 23:28 declares that outward religious polish cannot hide an unconverted heart. Jesus calls for authenticity—where inner devotion aligns with visible conduct—because God sees beneath any façade and judges reality, not appearance. (28) Even so ye also. . .--A like image meets us in the words in which one of the Maccabean princes, Alexander Jannaeus, warned his wife on his death-bed to beware of "men who were painted Pharisees, expecting the reward of Phinehas, while their works were the works of Zimri." Iniquity.--Better,lawlessness--a reckless disregard of the very Law of which they professed to be the interpreters.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek In the same way,οὕτως(houtōs)Adverb
Strong's 3779:Thus, so, in this manner. Or (referring to what precedes or follows).youὑμεῖς(hymeis)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771:You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.appearφαίνεσθε(phainesthe)Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5316:Prolongation for the base of phos; to lighten, i.e. Show.to be righteousδίκαιοι(dikaioi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1342:From dike; equitable; by implication, innocent, holy.on 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).butδέ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.on the insideἔσωθεν(esōthen)Adverb
Strong's 2081:From eso; from inside; also used as equivalent to eso.you areἐστε(este)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.fullμεστοὶ(mestoi)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3324:Full, filled with. Of uncertain derivation.of hypocrisyὑποκρίσεως(hypokriseōs)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5272:From hupokrinomai; acting under a feigned part, i.e. deceit.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.wickedness.ἀνομίας(anomias)Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 458:Lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin. From anomos; illegality, i.e. Violation of law or wickedness.
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NT Gospels: Matthew 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous (Matt. Mat Mt) |
