10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” Matthew 15: 10-20 ESV
Matthew 15: 10-20 Defilement
8But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or wine. So he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself. 9Now God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official,… Daniel 1: 8-9
It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person - This comes after a battle with the Pharisees from Jerusalem, over additions they made to the law, thinking that an unclean spirit could enter a man if he did not perform a ritual washing that was in addition to the ceremonial laws (see last post). These 11 verses are so rich, so fully packed, and I will give it my best, but it may have to be two posts. In the Old Testament you have the Ceremonial law and the Moral law. The ceremonial and dietary laws provided a few things, first of all they separated the people of Israel out from amongst all peoples. Next, they taught the idea of clean and unclean, that there was a way to approach God, that there were obstacles to approaching God. Humanity was unclean, and needed to be cleaned. Third, these are shadows, pictures of what is to come. For example, Abraham was given a ram to replace Isaac as a sacrifice, the Jews offered many peace offerings and sacrificed sin offerings of sheep, bulls and doves, which all pointed to the ultimate offering, the Atonement, the gratifying reality of Christ, the One Whose death gives that crushing blow. The Pharisees and Sadducees didn't mind the ceremonial law, in fact, when they didn't like parts of the moral law, they would just add to the ceremonial law, trinket worship, worthless religion. Those who were Scribes, who read the law and the prophets, had no good excuse for this, and what's worse is they were teachers, steering men away from true repentance and towards outward show.
14Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand: 15Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.” …
… 17 After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable. 18“Are you still so dull?” He asked. “Do you not understand? Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him,…
19because it does not enter his heart, but it goes into the stomach and then is eliminated.” (Thus all foods are clean.) 20He continued: “What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him.… Mark 7: 14-20
…2Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word. 3Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who slays a man; whoever sacrifices a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever presents a grain offering is like one who offers pig’s blood; whoever offers frankincense is like one who blesses an idol. Indeed, they have chosen their own ways and delighted in their abominations. 4So I will choose their punishment and I will bring terror upon them, because I called and no one answered, I spoke and no one listened. But they did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”… Isaiah 66: 2-4
…16Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.… Colossians 2: 16-18
1For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins. 3Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,… Hebrews 10: 1-3
Now after reading all that, look again at Daniel 1 above. He didn't want to defile himself with the king's food and wine, for he was dedicated to God, and there were dietary laws that prohibited eating certain animals and preparations. For him to eat this food would be a violation of the Jewish dietary laws, and so a question of conscience. Even though he was in a foreign land he realized that Jehovah was the true God, and that was not a matter of location. Daniel still wanted to obey and serve the only true God regardless of his present circumstances. This goes back to the point of being called out, separate, and though Daniel was now in Babylon, his heart still belonged to God. The Jews also practiced circumcision, which was a sign of being pulled away from the flesh, but it was a sign outwardly of what should have taken place inwardly.
…28A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God. Romans 2: 28-29
1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the one who loves God is known by God.…
…4So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), 6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.…
…7But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. 9Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.… 1 Corinthians 8: 1-9
Do you know that the Pharisees were offended - The disciples don't fully comprehend Who they are talking to, and I think they are concerned for Jesus's well being and their own. Jesus knows that much of what He says, and even His being offends them, but offense isn't the measure of whether these things should be said. If we only said what doesn't offend people, then you couldn't share the gospel, which is a call to repentance from sin, through the meritorious work of Christ, not us, not by our works, but by believing in Him. If you don't want to offend then you can't call things sin that God has called sin because people love and identify themselves with these sins. If you can't call sin what it is, then what are they repenting of, and what did Jesus die for? John called them vipers, and Jesus will continue to correct and call them out, the more obstinate they are, the harsher the rebuke. This isn't an open invitation to be contentious either, we are supposed to tell the truth in love. Jesus also tells us to love our enemies, so we have to care about the people we are talking to, and unlike Him, we can't see their hearts, but we can judge actions. We also came to Him not by way of our own inherent righteousness, but as sinners needing a Savior.
…19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 20But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear of sin. 21I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to maintain these principles without bias, and to do nothing out of partiality.… 1 Timothy 5: 19-21
…10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.… 2 Corinthians 7: 10-12
Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up - This takes us back to the parable of the wheat and the tares. The tares look like wheat till the time of fruit, but they were sown in the same field as the wheat by the enemy. The Pharisees are outwardly religious, circumcised, related to Abraham, go to synagogue, clean the outside of the cup, trying by human effort to look like wheat, but they are tares.
Let them alone - Terrifying statement, don't waste your time on these. Religious people are the hardest to reach, they are usually quite satisfied with themselves and their traditions. In their eyes, and in those of many of their friends and followers, they are good people. Jesus gives them only so much time as to rebuke them and then correct their false interpretations of the law, so the people can know the Author's true intent. While difficult though, like the rich man, yet nothing is impossible for God, and one of the Pharisees greatest teachers, Nicodemus, will become a student of Christ.
They are blind guides - They are claiming to be teachers without understanding of God's word, and they openly show preference to their traditions above God's word. They teach pride, the Bible prescribes repentance and humility. They teach works, and God's word shows their works to be as filthy rags. They portray confidence, all the while taking both themselves and their listeners towards a pit. They claim to see when they are really blind, but the blind are taking them at their word.
…10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”… Romans 3: 10-12
…11Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion. 12These men are hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted. 13They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.… Jude 1: 11-13
Are you also still without understanding - I'm a fisherman in a sense myself, in that I love it, not because I'm able to make a living from it like these guys, but many of His disciples are fishermen, and we are a slow lot. Short attention spans and the need to have things repeated are not strange concepts for me. People laugh at Peter being so forward in these accounts, but the man who doesn't ask goes on without knowing, yet everyone here benefits from Peter saying, "I don't get it." I see you catching fish and I haven't been able to catch one all day, well, "what are you using?" So why does Christ respond this way? He has already taught them these principles, and He has expounded yet again on the Sermon on the mount. What goes in your mouth hits your gut, get's digested, passes into your intestines to be further broken down, stripped of whatever is useful to the body, and then you poop the rest out. Look, guys, food is something outside of you that you take inside of you. He's not talking about stuff that's laced with poison, but everything else, anything that God has made, that could be eaten, is not inherently bad. Food is not evil. This is a difficult concept for a practicing Jew, who has taken great pains his whole life to avoid eating anything unclean. The struggle for Peter will not end here in this chapter either, he's thick, and God will crack the hard earth of his mind several more times and by every means necessary to get this into his heart.
9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. Acts 10:9-16
What comes out of the mouth defiles a man - He has taken them all the way back to the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, why? Because "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart". It is not anything outside of you that defiles you, but your own thoughts, your own greed, lust, envy, the entertaining inwardly of that which God calls abominable. Look at the pattern, "out of the heart come evil thoughts", and this is the battle ground of the believer, this is where he fights, he hates his own sin so much more than that of others. He doesn't care so much for his outer appearance, what men believe to be true about him, their approval and condolences mean nothing to a heart wrecked over it's own wretchedness, fighting to be free of every bondage.
…9Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.… Psalm 51: 9-11
Murder, adultery, sexual immorality - When you meditate on anger, see others as beneath you, your comforts as more valuable than their lives, your ego more significant than their well being, you become a murderer. When you meditate on what a woman looks like outwardly, only considering her value based upon her sexual appeal, what being with her will do for your sense of self, you are already a fornicator in your heart, and if she or you or both of you are married, you can add adultery to that charge. All forms of sexual immorality are a violation of God's original design, one man with one woman, the two becoming one flesh. This is the union through which He brings forth life, offspring to be raised in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The break down of this begins in the mind, entertaining the desire, saying, "hath God said?" Your mind is in a fallen state, readily willing to lower God's bar, reduce His demand, justify your sins in your mind, and then call anyone who disagrees with you an unloving bigot. Look, this is right back to Matthew 5:
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5: 21-26 ESV
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Matthew 5: 27-30 ESV
Theft - This starts with coveting, wanting what somewhat else has. Socialism is a supposedly "legalized" version of this.
False witness and slander - Protecting the guilty or persecuting the innocent in a trial. Famously used by the #metoo movement, not all of which was untrue, yet they elevated the notions of believing people regardless of facts and before investigation. They threw away the time honored tradition of innocent until proven guilty. Just because someone says something, wants something to be true, and says it with great emotion and apparent conviction, yet feelings and emotions do not make it true. When it is weaponized against a person and changes other people's feelings or disposition to them, causes loss of livelihood and stains their reputation falsely, it is slander. This has been seen too often in our culture, when someone disagrees with you using facts and you call them a Nazi, a racist, or a bigot, not because what they isn't true, but because you are trying to perpetuate a lie and the truth is at odds with your ideals. You think Jesus didn't realize that what He was saying was ticking the Pharisees off?
…10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.… Matthew 5: 10-12
These are what defile a person - The things that God calls sin, punishable by eternal damnation, yeah, those things defile you, not neglect of a superstitious washing of the hands to prevent a demon from entering your body. Actually, putting wait on that, on your own thoughts and traditions, considering them anywhere near the scale of magnitude that is the revealed word of God, that defiles you, and even worse, you teach it so that others may be defiled with you.
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