IT IS WHAT WE SPEAK NOT WHAT WE EAT THAT DEFILES US

PROCLAMATION

“… ‘Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them?  For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and out of the body.’  In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.  He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them.  For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come …  and defile a person.’ ”  Mark 7:18-23 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to Mark, a companion Simon Peter.  After Jesus walked on the water of the lake to the boat and they landed at Gennesaret, the people gathered around Him and brought their sick to be healed. (Mark 6:53-56)  There were scribes and Pharisees in the crowd who had come from Jerusalem.  They saw the disciples eating without first washing their hands.  The Pharisees and all Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a “ceremonial washing”, a tradition of their elders.  The washing was not done for cleanliness.  So, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about His disciples eating food with defiled hands. (Mark 7:1-5)  Jesus reprimanded them saying that they honor tradition rather than keeping the commands of God. (Mark 7:6-13)  Then He said to the crowd that nothing they eat defiles them, what defiles them is that which they speak. (Mark 7:14-23)  

APPLICATION

This lesson was also recorded in the gospel according to Matthew. (Matthew 15:10-20)  The point which Jesus, The Christ, made here was that what we eat does not defile us, but what we speak can defile us.  The words which we speak reflect the issues of our heart and mind.  A pure heart produces clean thoughts and good words.  A wicked heart produces unclean thoughts and evil words and actions.  So, when we pray, we should ask The Lord God to cleanse our heart and mind. (Psalm 51:10)  For as a man thinks, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)

PROCLAMATION

“For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and out of the body.’  In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.  He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them.  For it is from within, out of a person’s heart …’”  Mark 7:18-21 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

APPLICATION