What Defiles A Person
Matthew 15:10-11: "And Jesus called the people to him and said to them, 'Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.'"
Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, we see Jesus ushering in the new kingdom. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains the way to live as citizens of this new kingdom. He takes the focus off of the external Old Testament laws and turns to the internal nature of man, the heart and the motivations. Tim Keller calls this "the inside-out kingdom."
The Pharisees have kept the external laws of God, but they have not loved the Lord their God. They have not loved his people. They have not been faithful shepherds to the flock entrusted to them. Jesus will continually challenge their outward performance of faith. This external practice was much more about themselves and the approval of man rather than the approval of God.
While the Pharisees were deeply concerned with the cleanliness of the food that went into the body (thinking that whatever went into them was able to corrupt), Jesus focused on what comes out of the body - things such as a person's words and actions. These words and actions stem from the heart, either a heart of love towards the Lord or a love towards oneself.
What is coming out of your mouth these days? How do you speak of people - not just your friends but the people with whom you disagree? Are you quick to criticize and condemn? Are you easily offended? If so, you may want to take a look at your heart. Jesus' invitation is to transform you from the inside out. When your heart is changed by him, your thoughts, words, and actions will reflect that transformation.
Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, we see Jesus ushering in the new kingdom. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains the way to live as citizens of this new kingdom. He takes the focus off of the external Old Testament laws and turns to the internal nature of man, the heart and the motivations. Tim Keller calls this "the inside-out kingdom."
The Pharisees have kept the external laws of God, but they have not loved the Lord their God. They have not loved his people. They have not been faithful shepherds to the flock entrusted to them. Jesus will continually challenge their outward performance of faith. This external practice was much more about themselves and the approval of man rather than the approval of God.
While the Pharisees were deeply concerned with the cleanliness of the food that went into the body (thinking that whatever went into them was able to corrupt), Jesus focused on what comes out of the body - things such as a person's words and actions. These words and actions stem from the heart, either a heart of love towards the Lord or a love towards oneself.
What is coming out of your mouth these days? How do you speak of people - not just your friends but the people with whom you disagree? Are you quick to criticize and condemn? Are you easily offended? If so, you may want to take a look at your heart. Jesus' invitation is to transform you from the inside out. When your heart is changed by him, your thoughts, words, and actions will reflect that transformation.
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