Mark 7:14-23
"14 And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them, Hearken unto Me every one of you, and understand:
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable.
18 And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20 And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
In today's verses, Jesus redefines the true source of moral defilement. He declares that nothing external; such as food or unwashed hands, can spiritually defile a person, because it enters the stomach and is expelled, never reaching the heart.
True defilement originates within: from the heart and mind come evil thoughts and actions. Jesus lists them: evil thoughts, sexual immorality (adulteries and fornications), murder, theft, greed, wickedness, deceit, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these flow from within and defile us.
This teaching declared all foods clean, setting aside Jewish dietary laws of ritual purity. It also exposed the Pharisees’ hypocrisy; obsessing over outward traditions while ignoring inner corruption.
The core principle is clear: spiritual cleanliness flows from inner righteousness, not external observances.
Application: What “internal” things are you allowing to defile your thoughts and heart today? Let's ask Jesus for help with it. 🙏✝️
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