Matthew 23:26

26 Blind Pharisee, make clean first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that their outside also may become clean.

Matthew 23:26 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 23:26

Thou blind Pharisee
Well might Christ call such an one a blind Pharisee, who was so scrupulously careful to cleanse his cup and platter; and yet made no conscience of filling them with what was gotten in an unjust way, and so defiled himself and them:

cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the
outside of them may be clean also:
get food and drink in an honest way, remove all extortion and oppression out of thine hands, and luxury and intemperance from thy table; and so shall the outward cleanness of thy cup and dish, be no reproach unto thee, or testimony against thee, of thine hypocrisy. So the great concern of all men should be, inward purity; that their hearts be purified by faith in the blood of Christ, and sprinkled from an evil conscience by the same; that principles of grace and holiness be formed in them by the Spirit of God; and then their outward lives and conversations being influenced thereby, will be honourable and agreeable to their professions. Otherwise, an external reformation, or an outward show of holiness, and bare pretensions to it, without internal grace, will never be of any avail in the sight of God.

Matthew 23:26 In-Context

24 Blind guides, who strain out the gnat, but drink down the camel.

25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within they are full of rapine and intemperance.

26 Blind Pharisee, make clean first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that their outside also may become clean.

27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like whited sepulchres, which appear beautiful outwardly, but within are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

28 Thus also *ye*, outwardly ye appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.