Matthew 15 - 8.13.24
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 15: 10 - 20
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides.[d] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
OBSERVATION
The Pharisees and teachers of the law had just come to Jesus, in verse 2, and the disciples to questioning why they “break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”. See the Pharisees and teachers were looking for every opportunity to catch Jesus and the disciples in some act that would disprove them as being from God. They were also looking at the external and Jesus was looking at the internal. Jesus ends up calling them out in verse 8 – 9:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.”
In verse 10 – 20, Jesus explains it’s not about what goes into a body but what comes out.
The Disciples couldn’t understand and were more concerned about offending the Pharisees and teachers. They thought it’s important to alert Jesus that these esteemed leaders were offended by what Jesus said. They were all used to the Old Testament teachings about what goes into the body. Jesus explains it’s not about what goes in with food or lack of washing hands but it’s more about what’s in their heart that comes out. Jesus told them to leave the Pharisees alone – saying they were blind, not planted by God and would be pulled out at the root. Yikes!
Then Jesus makes it even more evident:
Jesus answers Peter with “Are you still so dull?” Jesus is basically telling Peter are you dense and blind? Whoa!! What an eye opening statement to help them understand the bigger picture. Peter’s example, just like we all might have thought, is that he’s still thinking in the physical as opposed to the spiritual inner heart of humans.
APPLICATION
I recently had a conversation with my new daughter-in-law about cursing. She warned me about a new movie that had a lot of cursing and knew I wouldn’t like it. I proceeded to tell her that in my younger non-Christian days, I had a potty mouth and could curse like a sailor. Once I became a Christian, seeing that God healed and changed me from the inside out, foul language became something foreign and obnoxious to me. This only comes from the inward transformation Jesus does to those who accept the transformation.
Ephesians 4:29
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Jesus is specifically calling out true transformation comes from inside the heart and isn’t about following external rules and regulations. Once a believer gives their life over to Jesus, that’s when the internal transformation begins and continues each day we give our life over to Christ. Just like a caterpillar that transforms into a butterfly, we are changed from the inside.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Jesus mentions several sinful thoughts and actions that come from within. I think he brought these up not only because many can identify with the sins but possibly to also speak to the Pharisees and leaders who were walking one way in their life and doing something completely opposite. No matter what, the list explains those who do these things is evidence of an inward heart issue. Jesus is the only one who can transform the inner heart.
PRAYER
Lord, I come before you and ask forgiveness for any internal thought or external action that displeases you. Help me, Lord, to see that changing sinful actions can only start with changing our heart towards You. It’s only through Your eyes, your Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit, that can change a heart to your ways. In Jesus name I pray. Amen!
- Mary Oberg
