Mark 7:14-23
14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand:
15 there is nothing outside the person which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which come out of the person are what defile the person.”
17 And when He later entered a house, away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him about the parable.
18 And He *said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding as well? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the person from outside cannot defile him,
19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thereby He declared all foods clean.)
20 And He was saying, “That which comes out of the person, that is what defiles the person.
21 For from within, out of the hearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery,
22 deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.
23 All these evil things come from within and defile the person.”
Dispute Concerning Cleansing (2)
Jesus speaking in parable
Today’s passage continues the dispute concerning the “cleansing.” Jesus explained where the problem lay in the Pharisees’ teaching, through a parable. (1) The Pharisees believed that impurity comes from the outside. Therefore, they taught that ceremonial washing was necessary to cleanse this impurity. (2) However, Jesus pointed out that impurity does not come from outside; rather it exists within a person and then manifests outwardly. Here, there is a contrast between external appearance and internal reality. The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of the inner self. God examines our hearts. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.'” (1 Sam.16:7).
Explanation of the parable
The disciples seemed to struggle to understand Jesus’ parable. So, Jesus provided an explanation. Since the Jews had rejected Jesus’ Messiahship (ref. Mark 3 and Matt. 12), Jesus’ teaching followed a consistent pattern. (1) Jesus taught using a parable. (2) Not only the crowds but also the disciples couldn’t fully comprehend it. (3) The disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable. Often times, Peter acted as the spokesperson of the group. (4) Jesus provided the explanation. This became a recurring pattern. The same pattern appears in today’s passage also. Jesus’ conclusion is that what defiles a person comes from the heart, not from what goes into the mouth through food. It’s the inside that matters, not the outside. If there’s anyone unsure about whether they are a sinner, it might be helpful to read Jesus’ words repeatedly: “That which comes out of the person, that is what defiles the person. For from within, out of the hearts of people, come the evil thoughts, acts of sexual immorality, thefts, murders, acts of adultery, deeds of greed, wickedness, deceit, indecent behavior, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile the person” (v. 20-23). Let’s pray for cleansing within ourselves.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, I too am one of those who foolishly focus on outward appearances. Please cleanse my from within. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.