Matthew Poole and continuators on Haggai 2:14

14 Then answered Haggai, and said , So is the people , and so is this nation before me ; saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands , and that which they offer there is unclean .

Now is the case applyed.

As common things toucht by holy things, are not sanctified, and as polluted persons, touching what is clean, pollute it as holy things did, not by touch and bodily application make him legally holy, who was common; but a polluted person made all he toucht, and handled unclean; so unsanctified and polluted Iews, polluted God's Ordinances, while the outward performing of legal and ceremonial Duties, such as bringing, offering, eating, dragging about their legal sacrifices, left them as unholy in themselves, and as unacceptable to God as they were before; somewhat more than is to be done. The Soul is first to be purified, that they and we may offer up a pure offering.

The Body of the Iews, or the most part of them.

This ingeminateth the same thing to intimate to us how God resenteth it, and how we should be affected with it

in Gods account, or in his sight. who seeth indeed what men are, and what their actions are.

Whatever they do in Sacred or Civil matters, they make a shift to pollute all the polluted hands, by leprous touches.

What they do bring to the Altar with impure hearts, and hands, is more polluted by them, than sanctified by the Altar.

Really impure, though it seem externally clean and holy, 'tis unsutable to the purity of a holy God. In sanctified actions all is spoiled by unsanctified hearts. Thence 'tis that uncleanness is derived on their best works, and consecrated rites do not, cannot sanctifie prophane Spirits.