◄ 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."
Study Bible
Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him;

Jesus spoke amid a dispute over ceremonial handwashing, yet His teaching reached beyond human traditions to the dietary distinctions of the Mosaic covenant. Food passes through the body and cannot corrupt the heart before God. The laws of Leviticus 11 marked Israel as a holy people separated from the nations, but they could not cleanse sin or produce righteousness. Mark later explains that Jesus thereby declared all foods clean (Mark 7:19), anticipating the removal of ceremonial barriers in the New Covenant (Acts 10:15).

Mat 15:11 A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth,…
Act 10:15 The voice spoke to him a second time: Do not call anything…
Rom 14:14 I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus…

but the things that come out of a man,

God has always sought more than outward observance. Isaiah rebuked those who honored God with their lips while their hearts remained far from Him (Isaiah 29:13). Words, choices, and conduct reveal what rules within the heart. The inward person is the source of either faithful obedience or rebellion, for “from the heart flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).

Mat 15:18 But the things that come out of the mouth…
Luk 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good treasure…
Pro 4:23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow…

these are what defile him.”

Jesus identifies sin, not food, as humanity’s deepest defilement. He soon names evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, deceit, pride, and other sins that proceed from within (Mark 7:21–23). Such corruption cannot be removed by ritual washing; it requires the cleansing God provides through Christ. Under the New Covenant, God writes His law upon the hearts of His people and gives them new hearts to walk in obedience (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26–27).

Mat 15:20 These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands……
Tit 1:15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to the defiled…
2Co 7:1 Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching the crowd about the true nature of defilement, challenging the traditional Jewish understanding of purity laws.

2. The Pharisees and Scribes
Religious leaders who are often in conflict with Jesus over interpretations of the Law. They are present in the broader context of this chapter, questioning Jesus about his disciples' practices.

3. The Crowd
The general audience to whom Jesus is speaking. They are witnesses to Jesus' teaching and are encouraged to understand the deeper spiritual truths he presents.

4. Disciples
Followers of Jesus who are learning from his teachings and are often given deeper explanations of his parables and teachings.

5. Gennesaret
The region where Jesus and his disciples are located during this teaching, as mentioned earlier in Mark 6:53.
Teaching Points
Understanding True Defilement
Jesus redefines defilement, focusing on the heart's condition rather than external rituals. This challenges believers to prioritize internal purity over mere outward compliance.

Guarding the Heart
Believers are encouraged to examine their thoughts, intentions, and words, as these reflect the true state of their hearts and can lead to defilement.

Freedom from Legalism
Jesus' teaching liberates believers from the bondage of legalistic practices, emphasizing a relationship with God that is based on inner transformation rather than external observance.

The Power of Words
Recognizing that words can defile, believers are called to speak life and truth, reflecting the purity of their hearts in their speech.

Holistic Purity
True purity involves both the heart and actions. Believers are encouraged to align their inner convictions with their outward behavior, living authentically before God and others.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jesus' teaching in Mark 7:15 challenge the traditional understanding of purity and defilement?

2. In what ways can we guard our hearts to ensure that what comes out of us is pure and pleasing to God?

3. How does the teaching in Mark 7:15 relate to the vision Peter receives in Acts 10:15, and what implications does this have for our understanding of purity laws?

4. Reflect on a time when your words or actions did not align with your inner convictions. How can you work towards greater consistency between your heart and behavior?

5. How can the teaching in Mark 7:15 help us navigate the tension between legalism and true holiness in our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Matthew 15:11
This parallel passage in Matthew reinforces the teaching that defilement comes from within, not from external sources.

Acts 10:15
Peter's vision about clean and unclean animals, where God declares all foods clean, echoes the teaching that external things do not defile a person.

James 3:6
Discusses the power of the tongue and how it can corrupt the whole body, aligning with the idea that what comes out of a person can defile them.

Proverbs 4:23
Advises guarding the heart, as it is the wellspring of life, emphasizing the importance of internal purity.
Sermons
A HypocriteT. Manton.Mark 7:1-16
Ceremonialism and SpiritualityJ. R. Thomson, M. A.Mark 7:1-16
Ears to HearQuesnel.Mark 7:1-16
Faith and Works Reversed, or the Plant Upside DownSword and Trowel.Mark 7:1-16
Heart Worship RequiredC. H. Spurgeon.Mark 7:1-16
Human Tradition Versus Divine CommandR. Glover.Mark 7:1-16
Hypocrites Perform Small Duties and Neglect GreatC. H. Spurgeon.Mark 7:1-16
In What Sense Worship is VoluntaryBurkitt.Mark 7:1-16
Laying Aside the Commandment of GodBuck.Mark 7:1-16
Moses Commanded Washing Very FreelyR. Glover.Mark 7:1-16
Perverse PenancesC. H. Spurgeon.Mark 7:1-16
Perverted Tradition the Bane of the ChurchJ. Pratt, B. D.Mark 7:1-16
Pharisaic PrejudiceMark 7:1-16
Scribes and Pharisees Coming to ChristL. Palmer.Mark 7:1-16
The Inefficacy of God's Word -- How ProducedJ. Gordon.Mark 7:1-16
The Religion of the JewsExpository Discourses.Mark 7:1-16
The Tradition of MenMonday Club SermonsMark 7:1-16
The Tradition of Men Versus the Commandments of GodR. Green.Mark 7:1-16
The Tradition of the EldersMark 7:1-16
Tradition Accumulates RubbishMonday Club SermonsMark 7:1-16
Tradition and InspirationDr. Wylie.Mark 7:1-16
Tradition Conceals TruthMonday Club SermonsMark 7:1-16
Unwashen HandsGeikie's Life of Christ.Mark 7:1-16
Exposure of Pharisaism: its Errors and EvilsJ.J. Given Mark 7:1-23
Externalism Versus RighteousnessA.F. Muir Mark 7:1-23
The Ritual and the Reality of PurificationE. Johnson Mark 7:1-23
The Tradition of Men in Competition with the Commandments of GodR. Green Mark 7:1-23
The Real and the Imaginary DefilementR. Green Mark 7:14-23
People
Esaias, Isaiah, Jesus
Places
Decapolis, Galilee, Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, Sidon, Tyre
Topics
Able, Defile, Defiling, Entering, Goes, Him'unclean, Makes, Nothing, Outside, Proceed, Rather, Unclean
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Mark 7:15

     8325   purity, nature of

Mark 7:1-23

     7342   cleanliness
     8720   double-mindedness

Mark 7:14-15

     5438   parables
     5550   speech, negative
     7478   washing

Mark 7:14-19

     4438   eating
     8269   holiness, separation from worldly

Mark 7:14-23

     5547   speech, power of
     7340   clean and unclean

Library
The Pattern of Service
'He touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and saith Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.'--Mark vii 33, 34. For what reason was there this unwonted slowness in Christ's healing works? For what reason was there this unusual emotion ere He spoke the word which cleansed? As to the former question, a partial answer may perhaps be that our Lord is here on half-heathen ground, where aids to faith were much needed, and His power had to be veiled that it might be beheld. Hence the miracle is …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Children and Little Dogs
'And from thence He arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered Into an house, and would have no man know it: but He could not be hid. 25. For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet: 26. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. 87. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Influence of Tradition.
"Making the word of God of none effect through your traditions: and many such like things ye do."--ST. MARK vii. 13. Such was our Lord's word to the Pharisees; and if we turn to our own life it is difficult if not impossible for us fully to estimate the influence which traditions exercise upon it. They are so woven into the web of thought and opinion, and daily habits and practices, that none of us can claim to escape them. Moreover, as any institution or society grows older, this influence of the …
John Percival—Sermons at Rugby

Second Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
(From the Gospel for the day) This sermon tells us how a man who truly loves God, whose ears have been opened to receive the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit, is neither lifted up in joy nor cast down in sorrow. Mark vii. 37.--"He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak." WE read in the Gospel for this day, that as our blessed Lord was going from one place to another, they brought unto Him a man who was born deaf and dumb; as must needs be; for he who is …
Susannah Winkworth—The History and Life of the Reverend Doctor John Tauler

Deaf Ears and Stammering Tongues.
(Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.) S. MARK vii. 37. "He hath done all things well. He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak." Such was the verdict of the people who saw one of our Lord's miracles. How far more strongly may we say the same, having seen the work of Christ in the life of the Church at large, and in each of our individual souls! We cannot look on the world of nature without echoing the words of the text. No thoughtful man can mark the spring-time coming to the woods and …
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

Perfection to be Sought.
12th Sunday after Trinity. S. Mark vii., 37. "He hath done all things well." INTRODUCTION.--It was said by an old heathen writer that God cares for Adverbs rather than for Substantives. That is to say, God had rather have things done well, than that the things should be merely done. He had rather have you pray earnestly than pray, communicate piously than merely communicate, forgive your enemies heartily than say you forgive, work diligently than spend so many hours at work, do your duty thoroughly …
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

The Sighs of Christ
(Twelfth Sunday after Trinity.) Mark vii. 34, 35. And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. Why did the Lord Jesus look up to heaven? And why, too, did he sigh? He looked up to heaven, we may believe, because he looked to God the Father; to God, of whom the glorious collect tells us, that he is more ready to hear than we to pray, and is wont to give more …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

The Deaf and Dumb.
ST MARK VII. 32-37. And they bring unto Jesus one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech Him to put His hand upon him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spit, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. . . . And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath …
Charles Kingsley—Westminster Sermons

Things which Defile
"And He called to Him the multitude again, and said unto them, Hear Me all of you, and understand: there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him: but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. And when He was entered into the house from the multitude, His disciples asked of Him the parable. And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, it cannot defile him; because …
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Children and the Dogs
"And from thence He arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered into a house, and would have no man know it; and He could not be hid. But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of Him, came and fell down at His feet. Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. And He said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the …
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Deaf and Dumb Man
"And again He went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis. And they bring unto Him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech Him to lay His hand upon him. And He took him aside from the multitude privately, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spat, and touched his tongue; and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And his ears were …
G. A. Chadwick—The Gospel of St. Mark

The Law.
ITS NATURE AND EFFECTS. THE law is the chief and most pure resemblance of the justice and holiness of the heavenly Majesty, and doth hold forth to all men the sharpness and keenness of his wrath. This is the rule and line and plummet whereby every act of every man shall be measured; and he whose righteousness is not found every way answerable to this law, which all will fall short of but they that have the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ, he must perish. The law is spiritual, I am carnal. …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

Protesting Our Innocence?
We have all become so used to condemning the proud self-righteous attitude of the Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican,[footnote1:Luke 18:9-14] that we can hardly believe that the picture of him there is meant to apply to us--which only shows how much like him we really are. The Sunday School teacher was never so much a Pharisee, as when she finished her lesson on this parable with the words, "And now, children, we can thank God that we are not as this Pharisee!" In particular …
Roy Hession and Revel Hession—The Calvary Road

Second Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
^A Matt. XV. 21; ^B Mark VII. 24. ^b 24 And from thence ^a Jesus ^b arose, and went ^a out ^b away ^a and withdrew into the parts { ^b borders} of Tyre and Sidon. [The journey here is indicated in marked terms because it differs from any previously recorded, for it was the first time that Jesus ever entered a foreign or heathen country. Some commentators contend from the use of the word "borders" by Mark that Jesus did not cross over the boundary, but the point is not well taken, for Mark vii. 31 …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Another Avoiding of Herod's Territory.
^A Matt. XV. 29; ^B Mark VII. 31. ^b 31 And ^a Jesus ^b again went out. ^a And departed thence, ^b from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon, ^a and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; ^b through the midst of the borders of Decapolis. ^a and he went up into a mountain, and sat down there. [From Tyre Jesus proceeded northward to Sidon and thence eastward across the mountains and the headwaters of the Jordan to the neighborhood of Damascus. Here he turned southward and approached the Sea of Galilee …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover.
Scribes Reproach Him for Disregarding Tradition. (Galilee, Probably Capernaum, Spring a.d. 29.) ^A Matt. XV. 1-20; ^B Mark VII. 1-23; ^D John VII. 1. ^d 1 And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judæa, because the Jews sought to kill him. [John told us in his last chapter that the passover was near at hand. He here makes a general statement which shows that Jesus did not attend this passover. The reason for his absence is given at John v. 18.] ^a 1 Then there …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Healing a Phoenician Woman's Daughter.
(Region of Tyre and Sidon.) ^A Matt. XV. 22-28; ^B Mark VII. 24-30. ^b And he entered into a house, and would have no man know it [Jesus sought concealment for the purposes noted in the last section. He also, no doubt, desired an opportunity to impact private instruction to the twelve]; and he could not be hid. [The fame of Jesus had spread far and wide, and he and his disciples were too well known to escape the notice of any who had seen them or heard them described.] 25 But { ^a 22 And} behold, …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Deaf Stammerer Healed and Four Thousand Fed.
^A Matt. XV. 30-39; ^B Mark VII. 32-VIII. 9. ^b 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech [The man had evidently learned to speak before he lost his hearing. Some think that defective hearing had caused the impediment in his speech, but verse 35 suggests that he was tongue-tied]; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue [He separated …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the Teaching of the Lord Concerning Purity - the Traditions Concerning Hand-Washing' and Vows. '
As we follow the narrative, confirmatory evidence of what had preceded springs up at almost every step. It is quite in accordance with the abrupt departure of Jesus from Capernaum, and its motives, that when, so far from finding rest and privacy at Bethsaida (east of the Jordan), a greater multitude than ever had there gathered around Him, which would fain have proclaimed Him King, He resolved on immediate return to the western shore, with the view of seeking a quieter retreat, even though it were …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician Woman
THE purpose of Christ to withdraw His disciples from the excitement of Galilee, and from what might follow the execution of the Baptist, had been interrupted by the events at Bethsaida-Julias, but it was not changed. On the contrary, it must have been intensified. That wild, popular outburst, which had almost forced upon Him a Jewish Messiah-Kingship; the discussion with the Jerusalem Scribes about the washing of hands on the following day; the Discourses of the Sabbath, and the spreading disaffection, …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

A Group of Miracles among a Semi-Heathen Population
If even the brief stay of Jesus in that friendly Jewish home by the borders of Tyre could not remain unknown, the fame of the healing of the Syro-Phoenician maiden would soon have rendered impossible that privacy and retirement, which had been the chief object of His leaving Capernaum. Accordingly, when the two Paschal days were ended, He resumed His journey, extending it far beyond any previously undertaken, perhaps beyond what had been originally intended. The borders of Palestine proper, though …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

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