Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 23:25-26

"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. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also." — Matthew 23:25-26 (ASV)

The sixth “woe” is uttered against the scribes and Pharisees with regard to their eating and drinking: “You make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.” They had frequent washings, both of themselves and of their vessels for eating and drinking. They did well to “make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter.” The evil consisted in the method of filling and emptying the vessels. They were filled by “extortion” and used for “excess”; therefore, all the outside washing was of no avail.

Singling out one of the evildoers, our Lord said, “You blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter,” get rid of “extortion” in gathering and “excess” in consuming; then the clean cup and platter will be in harmony with that which is within them.