Matthew 23:27-28 Jesus Makes a Poem about Filthy Hypocrites

In Matthew 23:27-28 Jesus creates a poem out of two wordplays.

“Hypocrites” החנפים
“Filthy” מטונפים

“Sepulcher” קבר
“Within” קרב

Matthew 23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites {“Hypocrites” (החנפים)}! For you are like whitewashed tombs {“Sepulcher” (קבר)} which outwardly appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness {“Filthy” (מטונפים)}. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside {“Within” (קרב)} you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament