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.” (Matthew 15:10–11 (ESV)
Mark 7:14-23 parallels today’s text from Matthew’s Gospel. Both accounts address the subject of spiritual defilement. What does defilement mean? How does an individual become defiled in the sight of God?
To be defiled (κοινόω; Koinoo) refers to a present, active condition of spiritual uncleanliness. It means to be unclean and out of fellowship with God. The root word for defilement is the word koinonia from which we derive the word fellowship. Defilement involves being out of communion and fellowship with the Lord.
How does this happen? How can a believer in Christ become defiled? Many in the church would say defilement occurs when a Christian does something they should not do. Or, defilement may occur when the same believer does not do something they ought to do. Like the Pharisees and the scribes within the biblical context (Matt. 7:1-9), defilement happens when a person behaves inappropriately according to some biblical, or manmade standard that may not be biblical.
Traditional views of defilement include, but are not limited to, the following: men having a lengthy hair style; going to movies; missing a church activity; women wearing makeup; women wearing slacks; reading and having a biblical translation other than the King James or Authorized Version; listening to contemporary Christian music; shopping on a Sunday; playing sports on a Sunday; working on a Sunday; voting a certain way; not agreeing with someone on any of these previous examples; and the list goes on and on. There are always people who pride themselves as being the self-appointed enforcers of these rules and regulations regardless of age or gender.
As we have seen, the Pharisees and the scribes from Jerusalem believed Jesus’ disciples defiled themselves by eating with unwashed hands. They cared more about the outward appearance rather the inner condition of the soul.
This is what Jesus focused upon regarding true biblical defilement. He commanded the people in attendance to hear and understand what He was going to say. He did want not anyone, especially His disciples, to miss this lesson. Jesus taught that what truly defiled a person was what proceeded out of their soul rather than what went into their stomach. He said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Mark’s Gospel account provides further information.
14 “And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” (Mark 7:14-23 ESV).
“People might defile themselves ceremonially (under the Old Covenant) by eating something unclean, but they would defile themselves morally by saying something sinful (cf. James 3:6). Here Jesus clearly distinguished between the law’s ceremonial requirements and its inviolable moral standard. Ceremonial defilement could be dealt with through ceremonial means. But moral defilement corrupts a person’s soul,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
There will always be individuals who will accuse us of being ceremonially unclean by some manmade or traditional standard. What truly matters is the condition of the individual’s soul in relationship to the Word of God. Violation of God’s Word is what causes true defilement. The solution is consistent confession and repentance of one’s sins before God (I John 1:8-10). He promises true cleansing from our true defilement. Praise the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 