14And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:14-23)
Hear Jesus and understand that sin comes from within and defiles us. And religious rituals cannot wash us clean.
Sin Comes from Within
Evil thoughts do not come out of a poor education; they come out of the heart of man. Sexual immorality does not come out of our sex-obsessed culture; it comes out of the heart of man. Theft does not come out of desperate circumstances; it comes out of the heart of man. Why is ISIS able to recruit people into its murderous idolatry? Because there is murder in the human heart. “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14).
Sin Defiles Us
Defile – make common, polluted and unclean, thus separating from the holy God
A hesitancy to touch your Bible after viewing pornography, a coldness in prayer after covetous daydreaming, a shyness in singing after shouting at your kids on the way to church–these are sensations of the real defilement our sin causes.
Religious Ritual Cannot Cleanse Us
No amount of hand-washing could cleanse the Jews of the deceit oozing out of their hearts. No matter how clean their diet, they remained defiled by their sensuality. In the same way, no amount of church attendance can cleanse us from envy. Morning quiet times can’t wash away our slander. Listening to Christian music cannot remove the defilement caused by our pride.
Good News
Only the blood of Christ purifies our conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). Only the blood of Christ gives us confidence to draw near to God with true hearts (Hebrews 10:19-22).
If you are convicted of sin, ashamed of defilement, walk into the light, confessing your sins to God and those against whom you’ve sinned. If you will, you’ll gain fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus will cleanse you from your sin (1 John 1:5-10).
If you want to talk to a pastor, please feel free to contact me: 704-545-5893 or matthewbroadway@gmail.com.
Discussion Starters
- Read Mark 7:1-23 together. Since it’s a long passage, perhaps break it up among the group.
- How does Jesus’ teaching in verse 15 connect with his response to the Pharisees and scribes in verses 6-13?
- What specific “outside a person” things did Jesus seem to be referring to? Are there any modern day Christian parallels to these things? Discuss.
- How do verses 21-23 shape the way Christians understand evil in the world?
- What is the core principle Jesus wants the people and the disciples (and us) to understand in this passage?
- What are some specific implications of the principle for you an individuals? For you as a group? For us as a church?
- Pray together.
