24.145 - WATCH YOUR HEART | Mark 7:14-23 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Mark 7:14-23 ESV

14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 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.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 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, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

WATCH YOUR HEART

The hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes was exposed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Here, Jesus calls their attention to realize what cleanness and uncleanness are about, respectively. They questioned and criticized Jesus why He allowed His disciples to eat with unwashed hands. Whereas, they neglected the law of honoring the parents when somebody practiced ‘Corban.’ Jesus had highlighted their double standard.

Spiritual cleanness is a matter of heart. Jesus pointed out that nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. These religious leaders had mixed up the practice of doing ceremonial laws [like washing hands] could make a person holy or morally upright. In the ceremonial law, God gave standards for what the Jews were to eat and avoid eating. But, is eating shrimp or bacon more serious than the selfishness and pride that fill the hearts? For the Pharisees, it is? God gave food laws[kosher food] to the Israelites as a sign that they were set apart from the pagan nations around them. Non-kosher food is called unclean, but those who eat it are not called unclean. They committed the error of making a ceremonial law as the end. Thereby, they appear cultic and are skewed in their attitudes.

This truth was not readily understood by the disciples also. They asked Him about this parable when they were alone with Him at home. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of understanding. He explained to them this truth in much detail. “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.”[v.17-23]

“Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.”[Prov 4:23]

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