What Does It Mean?

And He said, Are you also even yet dull and ignorant [without understanding and unable to put things together]?  Do you not see and understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the abdomen and so passes on into the place where discharges are deposited? But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what makes a man unclean and defiles [him]. For out of the heart come evil thoughts (reasonings and disputings and designs) such as murder, adultery, sexual vice, theft, false witnessing, slander, and irreverent speech.  These are what make a man unclean and defile [him]; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him unclean or defile [him]. Matthew 15:16-20 Amplified 

To eat with unwashed hands was offensive to the Pharisees. Hand washing was required by the Pharisees’ traditions. Eating with unwashed hands doesn’t make a person defiled, although it may make them sick. The true measure of defilement is what comes out of a person’s mouth—and their actions as guided by their heart, as listed in Galatians 5:19-21… Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  

Jesus explained the parable—His earlier teaching—to His disciples. He begins by asking them if they still don’t understand. Do we? It must have been disappointing to Jesus that His disciples just didn’t get it—didn’t understand His parables. This parable deals with heart issues. As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Proverbs 23:7. So how is your heart? 

RSVP: Jesus is appealing to us to have pure hearts—and to treat others with respect that we, believing in Him would inherit the Kingdom of God. How will you respond to Him? 

Prayer ~ Once again, Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10) that I would live a life pleasing to You.

© 2014 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.