Matthew 23:28

The NET Bible®

In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

King James Version (1611)
Euen so, yee also outwardly appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie.

King James Version
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

English Standard Version
So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

New American Standard Bible
"So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

New Century Version
It is the same with you. People look at you and think you are good, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil.

Amplified Bible
"So you, also, outwardly seem to be just and upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Legacy Standard Bible
In this way, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Berean Standard Bible
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Contemporary English Version
That's what you are like. Outside you look good, but inside you are evil and only pretend to be good.

Complete Jewish Bible
Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah.

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

Easy-to-Read Version
It is the same with you. People look at you and think you are godly. But on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and evil.

Geneva Bible (1587)
So are ye also: for outwarde ye appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie.

George Lamsa Translation
Even so, from the outside you appear to men to be righteous, but from within you are full of iniquity and hypocrisy.

Good News Translation
In the same way, on the outside you appear good to everybody, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and sins.

Lexham English Bible
In the same way, on the outside you also appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Literal Translation
So you also indeed outwardly appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

American Standard Version
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Bible in Basic English
Even so you seem to men to be full of righteousness, but inside you are all false and full of wrongdoing.

Hebrew Names Version
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

International Standard Version
In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Etheridge Translation
So you also from without appear to the sons of men as righteous, but within you are full of unrighteousness and hypocrisy.

Murdock Translation
So ye also, outwardly, appear to men as righteous; but within, ye are full of iniquity and hypocrisy.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Euen so, ye also, outwardly appeare ryghteous vnto men: But within, ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie.

English Revised Version
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

World English Bible
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
So ye likewise outwardly appear righteous to men; but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Weymouth's 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.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
So ye with outforth semen iust to men; but with ynne ye ben ful of ypocrisy and wickidnesse.

Update Bible Version
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus ye also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

New King James Version
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

New Living Translation
Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

New Life Bible
As men look at you, you seem to be good and right but inside you are full of sin. You pretend to be someone you are not.

New Revised Standard
So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, ye also, outside, indeed, appear to men, righteous, but, within, are full, of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So you also outwardly indeed appear to men just: but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Revised Standard Version
So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
So are ye for outwarde ye appere righteous vnto me when within ye are full of ypocrisie and iniquite.

Young's Literal Translation
so also ye outwardly indeed do appear to men righteous, and within ye are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Euen so are ye also: Outwarde ye appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of ypocrisye and iniquyte.

Mace New Testament (1729)
just so ye put on an air of probity in the sight of men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Simplified Cowboy Version
That's the way y'all appear to people. You look good on the outside, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and rebellion.

Contextual Overview

¹³ "But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in. "Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves! "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.' Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.' You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it. "Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel! "Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too! "Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. "Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up then the measure of your ancestors! You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? "For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things! "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! Look, your house is left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘ Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! '" ¹⁴Seven Woes Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The experts in the law and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat. Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long. They love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them ‘Rabbi.' But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers. And call no one your ‘father' on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,' for you have one teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. "But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in. ¹⁵ "Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves! ¹⁶ "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.' ¹⁷ Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred? ¹⁸ And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.' ¹⁹ You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it. ²² And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ye also: Matthew 23:5, 1 Samuel 16:7, Psalms 51:6, Jeremiah 17:9, Jeremiah 17:10, Luke 16:15, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 4:13

but: Matthew 12:34, Matthew 12:35, Matthew 15:19, Matthew 15:20, Mark 7:21-23

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 23:14 - the bones of men Matthew 6:1 - to be Luke 11:44 - for Luke 13:15 - Thou hypocrite Acts 23:3 - thou whited Romans 3:13 - throat Galatians 6:12 - as desire Colossians 2:23 - a show 2 Timothy 3:5 - a form James 3:17 - hypocrisy 1 Peter 2:1 - hypocrisies Revelation 3:2 - thy works

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous,.... By making broad their phylacteries, enlarging the borders of their garments, praying long prayers, compassing sea and land to make one proselyte, paying tithes of all manner of herbs, and cleansing the outside of the cup and platter, and doing all their works, prayers, fastings, and alms deeds, to be seen of men. This is the accommodation of the above simile; by reason of these things they looked like whited sepulchres, outwardly beautiful: so these appeared outwardly righteous, they looked like righteous persons, and were not; they were what Hagar, as the Jews say, charged her mistress with being; for so they interpret these words, "her mistress was despised in her eyes", Genesis 16:4 b.

"She said, this Sarah is not secretly, what she is openly; she appears כאילו היא צדקת, "as if she was righteous" and she is not righteous.''

The same they say of c Leah. This was a misrepresentation; but the representation Christ gives of these men, is right; they were of that sort of the Pharisees, which they call הצבועין, "the dyed", or "coloured" ones: it is said of Jannai the king, that he should say to those of his family d;

"Do not be afraid of them that are Pharisees, (that are truly so,) nor of them that are not Pharisees; but of them that are, הצבועין, "dyed", for they are like to Pharisees; for their works are as the works of Zimri, (adulterers, as these were,) and they expect the reward as Phinehas.''

The gloss upon it is,

"the Pharisees hated him, because he had slain many of their wise men, and was turned Sadducee; and when he was dying, his wife was afraid of them, lest they should take away the kingdom from her sons, and she desired him to seek their favour for her; but he said unto her, do not be afraid of the Pharisees, for they are "righteous", and will not render evil to thee, nor to thy sons; for they have not sinned against them; nor of them that are not Pharisees, for they are their friends; but of "the dyed ones": as if he had said, their appearance is not according to their nature, but they are dyed without,

ואין תוכם כברם, "and their inside is not as their outside": for their works are as the work of Zimri, for they are ungodly; and they expect the reward as Phinehas, saying to men, to honour them as Phinehas.''

But this outward show and appearance of righteousness, was only "unto men", not unto God: they did not appear so to him, who is the searcher of hearts, and knows what is in man, and knew all the secret wickedness that was in them; for though they imposed upon, and deceived men, they could not deceive God; nor was their iniquity hid from Christ, who adds, "but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity": and which was evident from their ambition and vain glory, in desiring the uppermost rooms at feasts, the chief places in the synagogue, greetings in the markets, and titles of honour and grandeur; from their avarice and cruel oppression of the widows, and fatherless, under a pretence of long prayers; from their neglecting the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith, and practising extortion and excess: that saying of their's e, may be applied to themselves;

"every disciple of a wise man, שאין תוכו כברו, "whose inside is not as his outside", is no disciple of a wise man.''

And it is expressly ascribed by some of their writers to one sort of the Pharisees, of whom they say f,

"they are desirous to appear to men to be holy, but their inside is not as their outside;''

which is much the same Christ here says of them. What our Lord charges these men with, is owned by their own doctors; they say g, that

"the iniquity of those that were under the first temple, was open and manifest, but the iniquity of those that were under the second temple, was not open.''

But as the gloss says,

"the children of the second temple, רשעים היו בסתר, "were secretly wicked".''

b Bereshit Rabba, sect. 45. fol. 40. 3. Jarchi in Gert. xvi. 4. c Bereshit Rabba, sect. 71. fol. 63. 2. d T. Bab. Sota, fol. 22. 2. e T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 72. 2. f Bartenora in Misn. Sota, c. 3. sect. 4. g T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 9. 2.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 23:28. Even so ye also - appear righteous unto men — But what will this appearance avail a man, when God sits in judgment upon his soul? Will the fair reputation which he had acquired among men, while his heart was the seat of unrighteousness, screen him from the stroke of that justice which impartially sends all impurity and unholiness into the pit of destruction? No. In the sin that he hath sinned, and in which he hath died, and according to that, shall he be judged and punished; and his profession of holiness only tends to sink him deeper into the lake which burns with unquenchable fire. Reader! see that thy heart be right with God.