Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 23:26

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Luke hath this, Ch. 11.39, 40. as occasioned by the Pharisees, wondring that he washed not before Dinner, instead of Extortion and Excess, he hath ravening and Wickedness, and addeth, You Fools, did not he that made that which is without, make that which is within also? But the same thing might be spoken at two speveral times: He speaketh there to the Pharisee, with whom he Dined, v. 37. Here he speaks to the Disciples, and the Multitude. Our Saviours design here seemeth to me not to be a Condemning of their Legal, or Traditional washings of Pots and Cups, which he elsewhere reflecteth upon, but by way of allusion only; to blame them that in their whole Conversation, they rather studied an external Purity, than the inward Purity of the Heart, whereas if they would first have looked at Purity of Heart, the other would have followed that. A man may be outwardly pure, and inwardly filthy and impure: But no man can have a pure Heart, but he will live a Pure and Holy Life; for the External Acts, are but the Imperate Acts of the Soul: Out of the abundance of the Heart, the Mouth speaketh, and according to the Inclinations, and Affections of the Heart the Foot moveth, the Hand, and all the bodily Members act. For our Saviours Application of this to their Traditional washings, I shall speak to it when I come to, Luk. 11.39.