Out of the Heart

Mt. 15:18-20

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands that does not defile anyone.

 

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, people who appeared to be holy by their many traditions, false piety, and many words. They questioned Jesus about His disciples eating without washing, thus breaking the tradition concerning washing before eating. Jesus' reply exposed their question and their actions for what they really were. He brought to their minds the matter of honoring their parents. They had justified their neglect by saying they gave the resources required to care for the parents to God. Speaking clearly, Jesus quoted Isaiah. This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Ouch! Slap in the face! All their man-made traditions they had added to the law were of no value! In reality all they did was a sham, a mere going through the motions.

 

Then Jesus told them to hear and understand. It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a person. What was He saying? Were the Pharisees offended? Yes, very much so. Their power had been challenged and their traditions had been criticized. Even though  the disciples were concerned about this, Jesus said to leave the Pharisees alone. They were nothing but blind guides.

 

Peter and the disciples still did not understand Jesus' statement. So when they asked for an explanation, He said similar to the physical body, what is eaten eventually is expelled, but what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And out of the heart come very vile things, evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander! These are the things that are defiling not eating with unwashed hands. Jesus was showing clearly it is not an man-made rule that is important, but it is the heart. Does the heart love God? Is the heart obedient to the words of God? Or is the life merely a sham, looking one way on the outside but full of evil on the inside.?

 

Father,

Expose any insincerity that I might allow in my life. Give me Your strength to deal with areas even when they are hard and humiliating. Keep me humbly depending on You for all that I am.

In Jesus name,

Amen