Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 23:27-28

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men`s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." — Matthew 23:27-28 (ASV)

The reason given for the seventh “woe” reveals what the scribes and Pharisees really were like in Christ’s sight: Ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

The annual whitewashing of the sepulchers had recently taken place, so the burial places looked their best; however, inside the tombs, corruption was doing its deadly work. These tombs were whitewashed not only for sanitary purposes but mainly to keep people away from them, so that they would not become defiled.

Our Lord certainly did not flatter the scribes and Pharisees with this comparison. Indeed, the more closely it is examined, the more appropriate it will be proved to be to their abominable character.

However much they might outwardly appear righteous unto men, within they were full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Rightly, then, did the holy Jesus cry, Woe! to such foul sinners.