Luke 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.
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κύριος
the Lord
G2962
κύριος
the Lord
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
4 of 26
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
5 of 26
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
6 of 26
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Νῦν
Now
G3568
Νῦν
Now
Strong's:
G3568
Word #:
7 of 26
"now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Φαρισαῖοι
Pharisees
G5330
Φαρισαῖοι
Pharisees
Strong's:
G5330
Word #:
10 of 26
a separatist, i.e., exclusively religious; a pharisean, i.e., jewish sectary
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ποτηρίου
of the cup
G4221
ποτηρίου
of the cup
Strong's:
G4221
Word #:
14 of 26
a drinking-vessel; by extension, the contents thereof, i.e., a cupful (draught); figuratively, a lot or fate
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
15 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἔσωθεν
inward part
G2081
ἔσωθεν
inward part
Strong's:
G2081
Word #:
21 of 26
from inside; also used as equivalent to g2080 (inside)
Cross References
Acts 5:3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?Proverbs 30:12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.Matthew 15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:Matthew 7:15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.Genesis 6:5And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.James 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.Titus 1:15Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.Psalms 22:13They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.Proverbs 26:25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.Jeremiah 4:14O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
Historical Context
Pharisaic purity laws prescribed washing eating vessels to remove ritual contamination from Gentile contact or improper use. Jesus exploits this metaphor: they cleanse ceremonial impurity from cups while their hearts overflow with greed and malice. The accusation of 'extortion' may reference their financial exploitation of common people through Temple taxes and burdensome religious requirements.
Questions for Reflection
- What external religious activities might you be using to mask internal corruption?
- How does Jesus's cup metaphor expose the futility of focusing on outward behavior while ignoring heart transformation?
- In what areas might you be 'cleansing the outside' through religious performance while tolerating inner wickedness?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness (τὸ ἔξωθεν τοῦ ποτηρίου καὶ τοῦ πίνακος καθαρίζετε, τὸ δὲ ἔσωθεν ὑμῶν γέμει ἁρπαγῆς καὶ πονηρίας)—Jesus's response escalates from defending his practice to attacking theirs. The contrast between exōthen (outside) and esōthen (inside) structures his critique: external versus internal, appearance versus reality. Their scrupulous vessel-cleaning ritual (katharizō) masks internal corruption.
Full of ravening and wickedness (γέμει ἁρπαγῆς καὶ πονηρίας)—the verb gemō (full, loaded) intensifies the accusation. Harpagē (ravening, greed, extortion) and ponēria (wickedness, malice) describe the Pharisees' actual character beneath religious veneer. They rob widows (20:47), oppress the poor, use religion for financial gain—while obsessing over ritual purity.