“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "cup and platter" being "full of greed and self-indulgence" isn't just about their personal habits; it implies the very contents they consumed, and the resources they used to acquire those contents, were tainted by injustice and excess. Jesus is highlighting how their outward observance of purity rituals couldn't mask the corrupt origins and unrestrained desires that filled their lives.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in the midst of delivering a scathing series of "woes" against the scribes and Pharisees, directly confronting their hypocrisy. He has just condemned their meticulous tithing of herbs while ignoring justice, mercy, and faith, calling them blind guides who strain out gnats but swallow camels. This verse continues that theme, exposing the hollowness behind their outward show of religious observance.
Ever notice how easy it is to polish the exterior of your life while letting the inside get messy? Jesus calls out this very trap.
Jesus uses a vivid image here: a clean cup and plate with a dirty inside. He's speaking to the religious leaders of his day, the scribes and Pharisees. They were meticulous about ritual washings and outward appearances. They made sure everything looked pure according to their traditions.
The External Show
Think about the rules they followed: washing hands before meals, purifying vessels. On the outside, their actions broadcasted devotion and adherence to God's law. They wanted people to see them as holy.
The Internal Reality
But Jesus cuts through the pretense. He says their 'cups' and 'platters' – the very things used for their sustenance and hospitality – were filled with 'greed' and 'self-indulgence' (or 'extortion' and 'excess' in some translations). This wasn't just about extra food; it was about acquiring wealth unjustly and consuming it without restraint. Their outward cleanliness was a mask for an inner corruption, a heart consumed by selfish desires. It’s a stark reminder that God looks at the heart, not just the performance.
What's really hiding inside your 'cup' when no one else is looking? Jesus names two specific sins that corroded the Pharisees' lives.
Jesus doesn't just say the Pharisees were 'bad' inside; he specifies the corruption: 'greed' (sometimes translated as 'extortion' or 'rapine') and 'self-indulgence' (sometimes translated as 'excess' or 'incontinence'). These weren't minor flaws; they were the defining characteristics of their inner lives.
Ask a follow-up
The Grip of Greed
The word for 'greed' here points to a rapacious, grasping attitude. It’s about taking more than one's due, often through dishonest means. The 'cup' and 'plate' weren't just dirty; they were filled with the spoils of unjust gain. They were enriching themselves at the expense of others, especially the vulnerable.
The Unchecked Indulgence
'Self-indulgence' speaks to a lack of self-control, an unrestrained desire. This could manifest in various ways – excessive eating, drinking, or a general pursuit of pleasure without regard for God's will or the needs of others. It's the opposite of the self-discipline and moderation that a life devoted to God would entail.
These two sins, greed and self-indulgence, are often linked. Greed fuels the desire for more, and self-indulgence provides the unchecked appetite to consume it. They work together to hollow out a person from the inside, even while they maintain a shining exterior.
Jesus offers a radical solution to the problem of hypocrisy. It starts not with washing, but with a deeper transformation.
After exposing the Pharisees' hypocrisy, Jesus doesn't leave them (or us) in despair. He points toward the necessary remedy. The core of his message is a call to prioritize internal transformation over external performance.
Prioritize the Inside
The implication of Jesus’ words is clear: True purity begins within. The 'cup' and 'plate' need to be clean on the inside first. This means dealing with the greed, the selfish desires, the hidden motivations that corrupt our actions.
Outer Reflects Inner
When the inside is truly clean – when our hearts are aligned with God's character, marked by justice, mercy, and genuine love – then the outward actions naturally flow from that pure source. Jesus isn't saying outward actions don't matter; he's saying they are a result of inner reality, not a substitute for it. A transformed heart will naturally lead to actions that honor God and serve others.
This is the profound work of the Holy Spirit in our lives – making us inwardly clean, so that our entire lives, inside and out, can reflect God’s goodness.
Understand the original words
harpagēs · Greek Noun
An intense craving for more, specifically wealth or possessions. It is condemned in Scripture as a form of idolatry that prioritizes material gain over the worship and service of God.
akrasias · Greek Noun
The lack of restraint or self-control regarding desires and passions. It reflects a life driven by personal indulgence rather than submission to the Holy Spirit and divine wisdom.
Jesus' strong words here directly address the Pharisees' public persona, highlighting a stark contrast between their outward adherence to purity laws and their inner corruption. This critique reflects the ongoing tension between Jesus and this influential religious group during His ministry.
c. 150 BC - AD 33
Pharisaic Movement and Influence
The Pharisees, a prominent Jewish sect, gained significant influence by emphasizing strict observance of Mosaic Law and oral traditions. Their focus on ritual purity and external piety shaped religious life in Judea.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry and Confrontations
During His ministry, Jesus frequently engaged with and critiqued the Pharisees and scribes, challenging their interpretations of the Law and their outward displays of religiosity.
AD 66-73
First Jewish-Roman War
This devastating war led to the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and profound societal upheaval for Jewish people, impacting religious practices and leadership.
This passage directly parallels Matthew 23:25, with Jesus explicitly stating that the Pharisees meticulously cleanse the outside of their cups and dishes while their insides are filled with greed and wickedness.
Amos 6:4-6This Old Testament passage critiques those who live in luxury and self-indulgence, 'anointing themselves with the finest oils,' while ignoring the suffering of their people, mirroring the Pharisees' outward show versus inner corruption.
Psalm 73:13The Psalmist questions the benefit of maintaining righteousness when the wicked prosper, highlighting the temptation to think that outward purity is pointless if internal corruption seems to go unpunished, a contrast to the Pharisees' false piety.
Matthew 23:27Immediately following this verse, Jesus compares the Pharisees to whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but full of death and decay within—reinforcing the theme of outward appearance hiding inner corruption.
Romans 2:28-29Paul discusses true circumcision being of the heart, not the flesh, emphasizing that outward religious practices are meaningless without an inner transformation of spirit, directly addressing the Pharisees' error of focusing on external cleanliness.
vincentMatthew 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."
Platter (παροψίδος)παρά, beside, ὄψον, meat. A side-dish, with the accompanying sense of something dainty; later, as here, the dish itself as distinguished from its contents.Excess (ἀκρασίας)ἀ, not, κράτος, power. Hence conduct which shows a want of power over one's self' incontinence or intemperance.
barnesMatthew 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."
The cup and the platter - The drinking-cup and the dish containing food. The Pharisees were diligent in observing all the washings and obligations required by their traditions. See the notes at Mark 7:4 . Full of extortion and excess - The outside appeared well; the inside was filled with the fruit of extortion, oppressi…
The "cup and platter" being "full of greed and self-indulgence" isn't just about their personal habits; it implies the very contents they consumed, and the resources they used to acquire those contents, were tainted by injustice and excess. Jesus is highlighting how their outward observance of purity rituals couldn't mask the corrupt origins and unrestrained desires that filled their lives.
Jesus is in the midst of delivering a scathing series of "woes" against the scribes and Pharisees, directly confronting their hypocrisy. He has just condemned their meticulous tithing of herbs while ignoring justice, mercy, and faith, calling them blind guides who strain out gnats but swallow camels. This verse continues that theme, exposing the hollowness behind their outward show of religious observance.
Jesus is in the midst of delivering a scathing series of "woes" against the scribes and Pharisees, directly confronting their hypocrisy. He has just condemned their meticulous tithing of herbs while ignoring justice, mercy, and faith, calling them blind guides who strain out gnats but swallow camels. This verse continues that theme, exposing the hollowness behind their outward show of religious observance.
"“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." — The "cup and platter" being "full of greed and self-indulgence" isn't just about their personal habits; it implies the very contents they consumed, and the resources they used to acquire those conten…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026