Matthew 23:27

Thursday, 22 October 2026

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Matthew 23:27

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites! Because you resemble tombs having been whitewashed, which outwardly, indeed, they appear beautiful. Inwardly, also, they swell – ‘bones, dead’ and all impurity.” (CG)

In the previous verse, Jesus finished His sixth woe to the scribes and Pharisees. He now begins His seventh woe, saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees! Hypocrites!”

Without letting up a bit, Jesus repeats the same thought He has already stated several times. If nothing else, this type of repetitive speech provides its own emphasis for the people to consider. With that introductory thought stated, He next says, “Because you resemble tombs having been whitewashed.”

Three new words are seen here. The first is paromoiazó, to resemble or be like. It is only found here in the New Testament. The next is taphos, a tomb. It is derived from thaptó, to celebrate funeral rites. The third is koniaó, to whitewash. It is derived from konia, dust. Thus, the sense of whitening is understood. It is used only here and in Acts 23:3.

Tombs are places for burial of the dead. Throughout human history, monuments have been set up to honor and remember those who have died. Whitewashing a tomb is something anyone would understand. Because the tombs were whitewashed, Jesus says, “which outwardly, indeed, they appear beautiful.”

Another new word is seen, hóraios, belonging to the right hour or season. By implication, it means to be flourishing or beautiful. That is the point of whitewashing. After time, things break down, appearances get moldy or blasted by heat and wind, etc. In order to keep things looking good, a layer of whitewash is needed from time to time. For those who see it, depending on who is inside, there may be fond memories or feelings of honor.

There is a truth about this, however, that most people don’t take the time to think about. And yet, with one exception, it is universal in its scope. Jesus says, “Inwardly, also, they swell – ‘bones, dead’ and all impurity.”

Two more new words are seen to finish off this verse. The first is osteon, bone. One can see the etymological ancestor of our prefix osteo, such as in osteoporosis. The second is akatharsia, impurity, both physically and morally.

Of this verse, Charles Ellicott says, “Ye are like unto whited sepulchres.—Contact with a sepulchre brought with it ceremonial uncleanness, and all burial-places were accordingly white-washed once a year, on the 15th day of the month Adar—i.e., about the beginning of March—that passers-by might be warned by them, as they were of the approach of a leper by his cry, ‘Unclean, unclean!’”

Life application: The words of Jesus in this woe resemble those of the previous woe in that they speak of outward appearances while the inward is corrupt. Sometimes, this occurs because people think they are better than those around them, or that they have a right to do things they shouldn’t do for whatever illogical reason they make up in their heads.

Others may do things they shouldn’t do without really thinking through their actions. You are at work, and there is something you want, but you have no right to it. In such cases, we may try to justify in our own minds that taking it is ok. Maybe if I swap something else for what I am taking, it will balance things out.

Or we might think, “The boss doesn’t care if I take this. He’s a good guy and won’t mind.” Have you asked if it’s ok to do what you are doing? Probably not, if you have to make up excuses in your head.

We are being evaluated based on how we interact with the world around us. Taking something that doesn’t belong to you is stealing. Saying untrue things is lying. Let each of us continuously evaluate ourselves, determining that we will not do such things, even if it involves something that may seem inconsequential.

Lord God, may our lives and actions be carefully aligned with Your will. Help each of us to be honest, truthful, and always the epitome of integrity to those we come in contact with. Yes, may it be so. Amen.