A Challenge from the Pharisees, Part 3. Mark 7:14-23.
And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:” There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, “since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean). And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, “coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. “All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Dear Saints,
Having rebuked the Pharisees, Jesus turns his attention to the crowd. Hopefully, they will understand his teaching.
Expression (vv. 14-15). The summary of the whole dispute with the Pharisees is that the problem is not with the things one eats. They cannot defile one. The problem is internal – the evil is inside and it is what eventually comes out and defiles one.
Enquiry (v. 17). The disciples are no better than the Pharisees in understanding. The moment they get an opportunity, they ask Jesus what he meant. There is a major difference between the disciples and the Pharisees, though: the disciples want to learn, whereas the Pharisees were on a fault-finding mission.
Explanation (vv. 18-22). Jesus basically declares ritual cleanliness irrelevant. Having a bath and washing hands may be a good health practice, but it does not affect the condition of one’s heart. Whatever one eats passes through the alimentary canal and leaves the heart untouched. The heart on the other hand brings out what is in it. It is the repository for evil thoughts, sinful desires, and ungodly attitudes. The mission of Jesus is a mission to the heart because it is a mission to transform people from inside. Are you occupied with the outward? Respond to Jesus and experience transformation from within.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.