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 15:15–20 (ESV)
Following Jesus’ discussion concerning tradition vs. the teachings of Scripture (Matt. 15:1-14), the Apostle Peter said to Jesus, “Explain the parable to us.” A parable (παραβολή; parabole) is a saying or proverb often containing symbolism. Parables are often compared to allegories. Peter demanded that Jesus explain or interpret His previous statements to the Pharisees and the scribes.
Jesus replied, ““Are you also still without understanding?” The personal pronoun you that is in the text is plural. This reveals that Jesus spoke to not only Peter but also to the rest of the disciples. He challenged them with His question. The phrase without understanding (ἀσύνετος; asynetos) refers to being senseless or foolish. It can also mean stupid. Jesus was being pretty direct with the men. His tone appears to be harsh.
“The “parable” is not at all hard to understand, but it was hard for even the disciples to accept. Years later, Peter still found it hard to accept that all foods are clean (Acts 10:14),” states Dr. John MacArthur.
Jesus then said, “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.” The Lord’s point was that true defilement was not because of what goes into one’s stomach. Rather, it was what comes out of one’s mouth, because one’s speech reflects the true condition of one’s soul.
The Lord provided further illustration by saying, “. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person.” Rather than appealing to tradition, as the religious leaders had, Jesus appealed to Scripture in describing true defilement (Exodus 20:12-17).
“Wicked schemes reveal themselves in wicked words and deeds. Matthew mentions several of these, arranging them more or less according to their sequence in the second table of the Ten Commandments,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen. “By no means are all of the items mentioned necessarily associated with spoken words, but all of them come from within; from the heart. The action is from within, outward.”
Mark’s list is twice as long (Mark 7:21-22). The important point, or moral, is the same in both gospels; “To eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
Believers in Christ must focus upon the things that really matter and not on trivial, ritualistic externals. Have an undefiled day.
Soli deo Gloria!
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