And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus points out that while the Pharisees meticulously clean the outside of their cups and dishes, their inner selves are actually filled with "greed and wickedness." This highlights their hypocrisy: they focus on outward appearances to impress others, while their true moral core is rotten and unaddressed.
And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is dining with a Pharisee who is disturbed that Jesus didn't perform ritual washing beforehand. In response, Jesus uses this moment to publicly call out the Pharisees' hypocrisy. He points out their meticulous attention to outward religious practices, like cleaning dishes, while neglecting the inner spiritual corruption of greed and wickedness.
Ever feel like you're performing holiness for others, while struggling internally? Jesus calls out this exact problem.
Jesus confronts the Pharisees, highlighting their intense focus on ritual purity – making sure their cups and dishes were spotless on the outside. This outward cleanliness was a show for others, a way to appear righteous according to their traditions.
However, Jesus cuts through the performance with a direct accusation: their inner selves were completely defiled. The 'inside' wasn't just a little messy; it was 'full of greed and wickedness.' This means their hearts were consumed by selfish desires and malicious intentions, even as they meticulously washed their hands and tableware.
This isn't just about ancient rituals. It’s a timeless warning against hypocrisy. True righteousness isn't about the exterior polish; it's about the interior condition of our hearts. Jesus prioritizes the unseen, the motivations, the desires, over the visible actions that people admire.
Jesus accuses the Pharisees of filling their cups with more than just food. What did 'ravenousness' really mean for them?
The word used for 'greed' or 'wickedness' in this passage can specifically imply 'rapine' or 'plunder.' This suggests that the Pharisees' inner corruption wasn't just a passive state of sin; it was actively fueling their actions.
Think about what they ate and drank from those clean cups and dishes. Jesus implies that the very food and resources they possessed were tainted. It was likely acquired through dishonest means – extortion, oppressive business practices, or exploiting others. Their outward 'cleanness' was a facade covering up the dirty, unjust way they obtained their wealth and sustenance.
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This reveals a deep theological point: our actions, even those that seem ritualistically correct, are meaningless if they stem from a heart filled with injustice. God isn't impressed by outward purity when the source of our provision is tainted by sin.
Understand the original words
Kyrios · Greek Noun
A title acknowledging Jesus' authority, sovereignty, and divinity; it is the primary Greek term used to address God or Jesus as the supreme Ruler and Master of one's life.
harpagē · Greek Noun
An inordinate, selfish desire for wealth, possessions, or status; it is condemned in Scripture as a form of idolatry that displaces trust in God.
ponēria · Greek Noun
A broad term for moral evil, depravity, or malicious intent; it represents a heart that is actively turned away from God's standards of righteousness.
This event occurs during Jesus' final ministry in Jerusalem, a time of intense confrontation with the Pharisees over their outward religious practices versus their inward spiritual corruption.
c. 20 BC - 10 BC
Pharisaic Traditions on Purity Laws Grow
During this period, Pharisaic interpretations of purity laws, especially concerning food and utensils, became increasingly detailed and authoritative among certain Jewish groups.
c. AD 20s
Jesus' Galilean Ministry Intensifies
Jesus' public ministry, including his teachings and confrontations with religious leaders, gains momentum in the region of Galilee.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry in Judea and Jerusalem
Jesus travels to Judea and engages in significant teaching and healing in Jerusalem, leading to direct clashes with the Pharisees and other religious authorities.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Final Week in Jerusalem
Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, openly challenging the religious establishment and delivering strong condemnations against their hypocrisy.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' accusation, stating that the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and dish but are filled with greed and self-indulgence within.
Isaiah 29:13This Old Testament passage echoes the theme, rebuking the people for honoring God with their lips and outward actions while their hearts are far from Him.
Psalm 51:6This psalm expresses a desire for true inner purity, acknowledging that God desires truth in the inward being, a stark contrast to the Pharisees' focus on external cleanliness.
Colossians 2:21-23Paul warns against a similar outward-focused religiosity, describing rules about 'Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch' that have an appearance of wisdom but lack true spiritual value and fail to address inner desires.
barnesLuke 11:39: "And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness."
See Matthew 23:25 . "Ravening." Robbery, plunder. Here the sense is that the cup and platter were filled with what had been unjustly taken from others. That is, they lived by their wickedness; their food was procured by dishonesty and extortion. This was a most terrible charge; and as it was applied, among others, to the man wh…
vincentLuke 11:39: "And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness."
Platter (πίνακος)The word rendered charger in Matthew 14:8, on which see note. Compare, also, παροψίς, platter, Matthew 23:25.
Jesus points out that while the Pharisees meticulously clean the outside of their cups and dishes, their inner selves are actually filled with "greed and wickedness." This highlights their hypocrisy: they focus on outward appearances to impress others, while their true moral core is rotten and unaddressed.
Jesus is dining with a Pharisee who is disturbed that Jesus didn't perform ritual washing beforehand. In response, Jesus uses this moment to publicly call out the Pharisees' hypocrisy. He points out their meticulous attention to outward religious practices, like cleaning dishes, while neglecting the inner spiritual corruption of greed and wickedness.
Jesus is dining with a Pharisee who is disturbed that Jesus didn't perform ritual washing beforehand. In response, Jesus uses this moment to publicly call out the Pharisees' hypocrisy. He points out their meticulous attention to outward religious practices, like cleaning dishes, while neglecting the inner spiritual corruption of greed and wickedness.
"And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness." — Jesus points out that while the Pharisees meticulously clean the outside of their cups and dishes, their inner selves are actually filled with "greed and wickedness." This highlights their hypocrisy:…
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Last reviewed October 2026