Luke 11:41

τὰ ἐνόντα. St Matthew’s τὸ ἐντὸς καθάρισον is clearer. Theophylact explains this to mean τὰ ὑπάρχοντα ὑμῖν. Euthym. τὰ ἐναποκείμενα. Luther, ‘of that which is true.’ A. V[245] ‘of that which ye have.’ Grotius, ‘of what is possible.’ This is followed by the marg. of the R. V[246] ‘that which ye can.’ The R.V[247] renders literally, ‘those things which are within.’ Perhaps we may render ‘as for that which is within you, give alms.’ But the entire meaning of the clause is much disputed. Some explain it, Give as alms ‘the contents’ of cup and platter, and then they will be all clean without washing. ‘It is Love which purifies, not lustrations.’ ‘A loving deed makes the hands clean.’

[245] A. V. Authorised Version.
[246] R. V. Revised Version.
[247] R.V. Revised Version.

δότε ἐλεημοσύνην. See Luke 12:33; Luke 16:14; Matthew 6:3. Almsgiving is only mentioned as one typical form of Charity, which was in that state of society preeminently necessary. Indeed ‘alms’ is the same word as ἐλεημοσύνη, which involves the idea of Mercy. The general lesson—that God does not care for ceremonies, in themselves, and only cares for them at all when they are accompanied by sincere goodness—is again and again taught in Scripture. 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 58:6-8; Micah 6:8; Daniel 4:27; James 4:8.