John Calvin 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)

For you cleanse the outer part. Our Lord elaborates on the same statement and uses a figure of speech to reproach the scribes for being eagerly focused on this single purpose of making a splendid appearance before people. For by the outer part of the dish He metaphorically expresses the outward appearance, as if He had said, “You are not concerned about any cleanness except what appears outwardly, which is just as if one were to carefully wash the filth off the dish's exterior but leave it filthy inside.”

That the expression is metaphorical is evident from the second clause, in which the uncleanness within is condemned, because within they are full of intemperance and extortion. He therefore rebukes their hypocrisy for not striving to regulate their lives, except before the eyes of people, in order to obtain for themselves an empty reputation for holiness.

Thus He recalls them to the pure and sincere desire for a holy life. Cleanse first, He says, that which is within; for it would be ridiculous to delight your eyes with outward splendor and yet drink from a cup full of dregs, or otherwise filthy.¹⁰³

¹⁰³ “Plene de lie et de bourbe, ou autrement orde et sale;”—full of dregs and of mud, or otherwise nasty and filthy.”;”—full of dregs and of mud, or otherwise nasty and filthy.”