Matthew Poole and continuators on Luke 11:44

44 Wo unto you scribes and pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them, are not aware of them.

See the Notes on Matth. 23.27. where our Saviour compareth the Pharisees to whited Sepulchres, here he compareth them to Sepulchres, but not as there to denote their Hypocrisy, appearing white, but having nothing within but Rottenness; but upon the account of the Contagion of them, and their Pollution of others that were not aware of them. To understand our Saviour, we must consider the Levitical Law, Num. 19.16. where we shall find that not only he that tounched a dead Body, but he that touched a Grave was Legally unclean for seven Days. Christ here alludeth to that, tho he be speaking not of Legal, but Moral uncleanness. By reason of the Law afore-mentioned, the Jews took care to white their Graves, that People might see them, and avoid that danger. To such whited Sepulchres, Christ compares the Pharisees, Matth. 23.27. But [illegible: 1 letter]ome Graves might not be whited, or the Colour washed off, so as they did not appear, and Men could not be aware of them, but ran into a Pollution by them. To such Graves he in this place compares them. They were Men that Externally appeared not to be what they were. The Jews took the Pharisees for great Saints (the strictest Sect of their Religion) so strict they were in their Duties to their Traditions, &c. which External Severity and formal behaviour, covered their Extortion, and Covetousness, and Malice, and Erroneous opinions, so as People did not suspect them of any such Guilt.