Scripture

“From the heart, come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

Observation

Some Pharisees come to Jesus and ask him why He permits His disciples to disobey the traditions of hand washing before eating.

Jesus turns the question back on them by asking, “Why do you allow people to dishonour their parents by not supporting them?” He goes on to tell the crowd that they are not defiled by what they put into their mouth, but rather by what comes out of it. What is important is not what we eat, but the state of our heart.

Application

What does it mean to be clean before the Lord?

The Pharisees were concerned with total obedience to the law. They specified very clearly what could be done on the Sabbath, how to tithe, what to eat, and so on. They believed it was following these rules that made a person right with God.

Jesus pointed out that the deeper issue is what our hearts are like. It is the heart, which determines our behaviour. A bad heart generates bad behaviour. The person whose heart is right with God, does not have to worry about following the rules. They will do what pleases God naturally.

A good heart draws us closer to God.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please make my heart more like you. Amen.