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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 11:37-54

Christ here says many of those things to a Pharisee and his guests, in a private conversation at table, which he afterwards said in a public discourse in the temple (Matt. 23:1-39); for what he said in public and private was of a piece. He would not say that in a corner which he durst not repeat and stand to in the great congregation; nor would he give those reproofs to any sort of sinners in general which he durst not apply to them in particular as he met with them; for he was, and is, the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 11:37-44

11:37-44 After Jesus had spoken a Pharisee asked him to dine with him. He came in and reclined at the table. The Pharisee was surprised when he saw that he did not dip his hands in water before he ate. The Lord said to him, "You Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are full of grasping and wickedness. Fools! Did he who made the outside not make the inside also? But cleanse the things that are within--and look you--all things will be pure for you. But... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 11:39

And the Lord said unto him ,.... Jesus, as the Syriac and Persic versions read; the Lord Jesus, as the Ethiopic. Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup, and the platter ; being very tenacious of the traditions of the elders, concerning the washing of cups and pots, which had been of late years brought in among them, and therefore the word "now" is used; See Gill on Matthew 23:25 and See Gill on Mark 7:4 , but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness :... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 11:39

Ye - make clean the outside - See on Matthew 23:25 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 11:39

Verse 39 39.Now you Pharisees Christ does not here charge the Pharisees, as in Matthew, (Matthew 15:1,) and Mark, (Mark 12:2,) with serving God in an improper manner by human inventions, and breaking the law of God for the sake of their traditions; but merely glances at their hypocrisy, in having no desire of purity except before the eyes of men, as if they had not to deal with God. Now this reproof applies to all hypocrites, even to those who believe that righteousness consists in ceremonies... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 11:37-42

Piety out of perspective. We have seen pictures in which no regard whatever has been paid to the laws of perspective, and in which, as the consequence, the mountain has appeared as small as the men, the men as large as the mountain. These have been objects of amusement, but not of admiration. Unfortunately, there was nothing either amusing or admirable in these practical pictures of piety which the Pharisees were drawing, wholly out of perspective, in the time of our Lord. In them were— ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 11:37-54

In the Pharisee ' s house. The Lord ' s stern denunciation of the Pharisee teaching and life. The day was not far advanced, and the Master was probably weary and faint after the long and exciting discussion just related; taking advantage, probably, of this evident weariness, some of the Pharisee emissaries from the capital, to whose presence we have before alluded, suggested to one of their friends, who had a residence in the town where the events just related had taken place, that he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 11:37-54

Pharisaism and legalism rebuked. Our Lord, who was eminently social in his habits, accepts an invitation to dine with one of the Pharisees, and meets many Pharisees and lawyers there as guests. Such scenes were, to his pure and philanthropic mind, important opportunities, and as such he entered upon them. In this case he breaks ground at once by deliberately neglecting the usual preliminary ablutions. This was through no slovenliness in his personal habits, we may be sure; for if... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 11:39-40

And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? Many of the words spoken on this occasion had been uttered by the Master previously. The variations in them, slight though they be, necessitate often quite a different interpretation. This helps us to come to the conclusion that in these cases the Lord... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Luke 11:39

See Matthew 23:25. “Ravening.” Robbery, plunder. Here the sense is that the cup and platter were filled with what had been unjustly taken from others. That is, they lived by their wickedness; their food was procured by dishonesty and extortion. This was a most terrible charge; and as it was applied, among others, to the man who had invited the Saviour to dine with him, it shows that nothing would prevent his dealing faithfully with the souls of people. Even in the Pharisee’s own house, and when... read more

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