Psalms 73:13,14 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, &c. Hence I have been tempted to think, that religion is a vain and unprofitable thing; that “all my faith, my charity, and my devotion; all my watching and fastings, in short, all the labour and pains I have taken in the way of goodness, have been altogether vain and fruitless; since, while the rebellious enemies of God enjoy the world and themselves at pleasure, I, who continue his servant, am in perpetual tribulation and affliction.” Horne. True religion is properly and fully described in this verse, by its two principal parts and works, the cleansing of the heart from sinful lusts and passions, and of the hands, or outward man, from a course of sinful actions. And although it be God's work to cleanse the heart, yet he says, I have cleansed it, because every pious man co-operates with God's grace in cleansing his heart. Compare 2 Corinthians 6:1; 2 Corinthians 7:1. And washed my hands in innocency That is, kept my hands (the chief instruments of action, and, consequently, the rest of the members of my body) innocent and pure from evil practices. I have washed my hands, not only ceremonially with water, wherewith hypocrites satisfy themselves, but also morally, with the waters of God's grace and Spirit, in innocency or purity. For all the day long I have been plagued, &c. While their ungodliness hath been attended with constant prosperity, my piety hath been exercised with continual afflictions.