Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 23:25

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess." — Matthew 23:25 (ASV)

The cup and the platter. The drinking cup, and the dish containing food. The Pharisees were diligent in observing all the washings and offerings required by their traditions.

Full of extortion and excess. The outside appeared well. The inside was filled with the fruit of extortion, oppression, and wickedness. The meaning is, that though they took great pains to appear well, yet they obtained a living by extortion and crime. Their cups, neat as they appeared outwardly, were filled not with the fruits of honest industry, but were extorted from the poor by wicked practices. Instead of excess, many manuscripts and editions of the Greek Testament read wickedness.