What does "nothing that enters a man" teach about external versus internal defilement? Setting the Scene • Jesus is debating Pharisees who insist that ritual hand-washing and food laws are required for purity (Mark 7:1-13). • He responds by turning the whole discussion inward, exposing the true source of uncleanness. Key Verse Mark 7:15: “Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.” What External Things Cannot Do • Food and drink do not reach the moral core—“the heart”—only the stomach (Mark 7:18-19). • Rituals, traditions, and outward ceremonies may have value as symbols, but they cannot cleanse or corrupt the soul (Colossians 2:20-23). • Observing regulations without heart obedience produces hypocrisy (Matthew 23:25-26). Where True Defilement Begins • The heart is the command center of thoughts, desires, and decisions (Proverbs 4:23). • Jesus lists the pollutants that rise from within: – evil thoughts – sexual immorality – theft – murder – adultery – greed – wickedness – deceit – lewdness – envy – slander – pride – foolishness (Mark 7:21-23) • These inner impulses erupt into words and actions, proving that defilement is an inside-out affair (James 1:14-15). Implications for Daily Life • Guard the heart aggressively; what is allowed to simmer there will surface (Proverbs 4:23). • Pursue inward transformation by the Spirit rather than mere behavioral adjustment (Galatians 5:22-24). • Enjoy the freedom Christ announced—“All foods are clean” (Mark 7:19; Acts 10:15)—but never use that freedom to indulge the flesh (Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:13). • Evaluate holiness by the fruit that emerges—love, purity, integrity—not by externals alone (Titus 1:15). Supporting Scriptures • 1 Samuel 16:7 – God looks at the heart. • Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all things. • Matthew 15:17-20 – Parallel teaching on inner defilement. • Romans 12:2 – Transformation comes by renewing the mind, not ritual. |
    |