Unclean vessels

Duncan Derrett points to the OT background to Jesus’ saying about unclean vessels. According to the law, a vessel was rendered unclean in the interior when an animal dropped into the vessel. Some vessels could be scrubbed clean, others had to be broken (Leviticus 11). A vessel became clean when it was scoured on the inside. Under the law, it is possible for a vessel to be unclean on the exterior, but clean inside. What is not possible is the opposite, which is what Jesus says the Pharisees are: An impossible combination of exterior purity and interior defilement. Holy vessels were different. Any defilement of a holy vessel, inside or out, defiled the whole.

He also suggests that Psalm 5:10 is in the background.

There the “insides” ( qereb ) is linked punningly to a “tomb” ( qeber ). Human interiors are compared to tombs which are comparable to other sorts of vessels. He suggests that the Psalm is most concerned about the passage to and fron the tomb of the body of the wicked: “The wicked seek to destroy the righteous, achieving it by deception and flattery . . . . we are to visualize a tall-necked vessel. Its stopper, which should be tight, is loose or undependably, failing to close the mouth at the lip. The throat is of course perpetually open. The belly of the jug is out of sight. Yet it is appetitive . The throat, like the entrance to a family tomb (which is periodically open and shut), gives access to what can never have enough . . . . As for the tongue, it smooths over the entrance when it is closed. The wicked seek to swallow down their prey by means of flattery and other deceit.”

Further, the Psalm describes threats from liars, deceivers, killers, rebels, and this fits the situation of Jesus, since the “Pharisees plot against Jesus, desiring his death.” They are like tombs, seeking to swallow down Jesus, and others, to death, while their entrances are guarded by fair-sounding words.