Mark 7:14-23 (KJV)
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Jesus didn’t address the Scribes and Pharisees with his answer to their question about eating with unwashed hands. He called the multitude and used the question as a teaching moment. Even then He narrowed the audience to “If any man have ears“. There was one audience He essentially ignored and another he dismissed. The lesson would only “take” in those who would listen to what He said.
I have known a number who use this passage to rail against separation and standards. They say this passage tells us that outward influences don’t matter. All that matters is that the heart is right with the Lord.
- Music
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Marijuana
These things in their eyes are just fine so long as they are used in moderation and the heart is tuned to Christ.
The parable teaches exactly the opposite.
We should interpret the passage within the passage. Jesus listed those worldly and sinful things that come from the heart. His list clearly demonstrates that those things He meant could enter and be expelled were of one nature and those things that would come out of an evil heart were a different nature.
We should interpret the passage within the passage. Jesus listed those worldly and sinful things that come from the heart. His list clearly demonstrates that those things He meant could enter and be expelled were of one nature and those things that would come out of an evil heart were a different nature.
It is not more acceptable to ingest evil than it is to let it out of the heart.
Separation from worldliness and evil is a Biblical lesson reinforced from Genesis to Revelation.
Separation from worldliness and evil is a Biblical lesson reinforced from Genesis to Revelation.
Those who have ears know this.
To my readers:
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I would love to hear from you. Leave comments below.
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Mark 7:14-23 (KJV) Those Who Have Ears Know This
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