John Calvin Commentary Matthew 15:20

"these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man." — Matthew 15:20 (ASV)

And pollute the man. Instead of the verb pollute, the Greek term is κοινοῖ, make common; as Mark, a little before (Mark 7:2), used the phrase, κοιναῖς χερσὶ, with common hands, for with unclean hands.⁴¹² It is a Hebrew phrase; ⁴¹³ for, since God had set apart the Jews on the condition that they should separate themselves from all the pollutions of the Gentiles, everything that was inconsistent with this holiness was called common, that is, profane.

⁴¹² “Les mains communes pour souillees et non lavees;” — “” — “common hands for for polluted and and not washed.”

⁴¹³ “C’est une facon de parler propre aux Hebrieux;” — “it is a mode of speaking peculiar to the Hebrews.”;” — “it is a mode of speaking peculiar to the Hebrews.”