How does Matthew 15:20 define what truly defiles a person spiritually?

◄ What spiritually defiles in Matt 15:20? ►

Opening the Text

“ ‘These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean.’ ” (Matthew 15:20)

Context in a Snapshot

• Jesus has just rebuked the Pharisees for elevating man-made traditions above God’s commandments (Matthew 15:1-9).

• He turns to the crowd and explains that moral impurity originates in the heart, not in neglected ceremonial washings (vv. 10-11, 17-19).

• Verse 20 caps the discussion, presenting the Lord’s definitive verdict on true spiritual defilement.

What “Defile” Means Here

• “Defile” translates a verb meaning to make ceremonially or morally unclean—unfit for God’s presence (cf. Leviticus 5:2).

• Jesus shifts the term from ritual uncleanness (external) to moral uncleanness (internal).

• The diagnostic test is not on the hands but on the heart.

The Catalog of Heart-Issues (v. 19)

Jesus lists seven examples that flow from within:

1. Evil thoughts

2. Murders

3. Adulteries

4. Sexual immoralities

5. Thefts

6. False testimonies

7. Slanders

These are not random; they echo the Ten Commandments, underscoring that defilement violates God’s moral law, not human tradition.

Supporting Passages

• Mark 7:20-23 repeats the same teaching, reinforcing the point.

• Jeremiah 17:9—“The heart is deceitful above all things…”

• Proverbs 4:23—“Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.”

• Titus 1:15—“To the pure, all things are pure… but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure.”

• 1 Samuel 16:7—“Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Why External Rituals Can’t Purify

• Ceremonies can symbolize cleansing (Numbers 19:13), but they cannot remove inner sin.

• Hebrews 9:13-14 explains that only Christ’s blood “purifies our conscience from dead works.”

• Externalism often masks inner rebellion (Isaiah 29:13).

What Truly Cleanses

• Confession and faith in Christ (1 John 1:7-9).

• Renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).

• Ongoing obedience flowing from a transformed heart (Romans 6:17-18).

Living the Truth Today

• Examine motives before actions; sin’s fountainhead is inward.

• Prioritize Scripture over tradition; God’s Word alone defines purity.

• Pursue heart-level repentance, not cosmetic reform.

• Trust Christ for cleansing, then walk in the Spirit so that what comes out glorifies God.