Month: February 2026

Reflection on Mark 7:14-23

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Scripture

“It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

Observation

Jesus calls the crowd to join the discussion. He tells them that it is not what you eat that defiles you, but what comes from the heart.

Jesus then goes into a house to escape the crowd. The disciples ask him what he meant by this. He explains that food cannot truly defile a person, that is, make them impure, because it just passes through the body. In saying this, Mark adds, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable to God.

It is not what comes from the outside, but what comes from the heart that makes a person unclean.

It is from a person’s heart that come evil thoughts, immorality, theft, murder, and so on.

Application

Jesus wants us to understand that we are not made unclean or unholy by external things like food. It is the heart that is the source of bad things.

Jeremiah tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things.

How contrary this is to the modern day exhortation to follow your heart. If the heart is the source of the sins that hurt us and other people, then following your heart is the last thing you should do.

No, the source of good advice, good behaviour, and good outcomes is to follow the Word, that is the Bible, the written word, and Jesus, the Living Word.

It must be stressed that it is not about legalism or following the letter of the law. No, it is allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts as we read God’s word, and walk in fellowship with him.

That living relationship with God will clean up our hearts so that they become transformed from the source of all evil to a fountain of life.

Listen

Lord, I am reminded right now of the psalm that says “Test my heart and see if there is any wicked thing in me.”

Keith, this process of testing is continuous. Every day, my Spirit warns you of good and evil, taming your thoughts before they run away with you.

The power of sanctification will take your entire earthly life. I will prepare all of my people for heaven, and there will be no unclean thoughts or inclination in any of them.

How can I do this? For people, this is impossible, as unrighteousness begets unrighteousness. But I am a God who makes all things new — not new and improved, but new and perfect.

Reflection on Mark 7:1-13

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Scripture

“And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own traditions. And this is only one example among many.”

Observation

Some Pharisees and teachers of the law, criticise the disciples for failing to wash their hands before eating.

The Pharisees have a rule that they must pour water over their hands before eating. They ask Jesus why His disciples don’t fellow their rules. Jesus calls them hypocrites, recalling Isaiah’s prophecy about people who honour the Lord with their lips, but their hearts are far from the Lord.

Jesus says the Pharisees side step the law. They dishonour their parents by declaring the money, they would have spent caring for them is dedicated to the Lord instead.

In this way, Jesus says, they cancel the word of God to hand down their own traditions

Application

The problem with legalism, the belief that we can become acceptable to God by following rules, is that people are so good at finding loopholes to avoid the good intentions of the law.

The Pharisees were dedicated to obeying the Law of Moses. But because they knew the requirements of the Law so well they also knew how to get around the law while being able to justify themselves.

Christians are not immune from legalism. How easily we turn a recommendation into a requirement, and then feel guilty when we let God down. It’s a great idea to read the Bible and to pray every day. When we tell people, “you must do this,” it becomes a burden, not a gift.

Listen

Lord, in what ways do I tend towards being legalistic?

Keith, you have learnt to not put expectations or burdens on people. You are very grace giving In your care for the congregation.

However, sometimes there’s just a hint of judgement and disapproval when people do not meet your expectations. You must learn to exhort and encourage people without judging them, to put up a standard without demanding it.

Mostly you do this well, but sometimes you can be a little bit hard line.

Lord I’m sorry for that. I recognise that I am disciplined and ordered in a way that most people find difficult, Please help me to build people up and not place burdens on them that they cannot carry. Amen.