IT IS NOT WHAT WE EAT THAT DEFILES US

PROCLAMATION

“Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, ‘Listen and understand.  What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.’ ”  Matthew 15:10-11 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle Matthew.  Some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law came from Jerusalem and questioned Jesus regarding His disciples braking tradition and not washing their hands before they ate. (Matthew 15:1-2)  Jesus asked them why they broke the commandments of God in order to keep their traditions, then He called them hypocrites. (Matthew 15:3-9)  Then He spoke to the crowd and said what they eat does not defile them.  What defiles them is the words which come out of their mouth. (Matthew 15:10-20)  For out of the mouth come the issues of the heart including evil sinful thoughts.

APPLICATION

Many people will not eat certain foods because they think that it will defile them.   Food is eaten, digested, and then it is eliminated from the body.  The words which people speak reflect the beliefs of the heart and mind.  Therefore, it is that which comes out the mouth that defiles a person, not that which they eat. (Matthew 15:17-18)  Our problem is not the foods that we eat, our problem is the wickedness of our heart and the words that we speak.  Every sin which we commit begins in the heart or mind as a thought.  So, when we pray, we should ask for a clean heart and mind. (Psalm 51:10)  “We may not be all that we think we are, but what we think, we are.” (Author Unknown)