Matthew 15:10-14: a reflection

10He summoned the multitude, and said to them, “Hear, and understand. 11That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” 12Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13But he answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father didn’t plant will be uprooted. 14Leave them alone. They are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

Correcting a mistaken idea about what makes a person unclean, Jesus tells the crowd: That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man. The Pharisees focused on external things, what one ate, ritual washings; but Jesus locates defilement not in what goes into a person from outside, but in what comes out from within, from the heart. It is the heart, and what it produces, that truly defiles, not external things.

Notice where Jesus locates the true source of defilement: within, in the heart, not in external things. What enters from outside does not defile; but what comes out of a person, from the heart, does. The problem is not chiefly external, a matter of what we touch or eat or the outward observances we keep; it is internal, a matter of the heart and what it produces. The heart is the true source of what defiles; and so it is the heart that needs attention and cleansing, not merely the externals.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can focus, like the Pharisees, on the external while neglecting the heart. We can attend carefully to outward observances, appearances, the external marks of religion, while the heart, the true source of defilement, goes unattended. But Jesus says it is what comes out of the heart that defiles; the heart is where the real problem, and the real work, lies. Do not focus on the external while neglecting your heart; the true source of what defiles you is within, in the heart, not in outward things. Attend to your heart, the true source of both defilement and cleanness, rather than resting in external observances while the heart goes unexamined. It is the heart that needs cleansing; give your attention there, as Jesus located defilement not in what enters from outside but in what proceeds from the heart within, and seek from God the clean heart that only he can give.

Lord Jesus, correcting a mistaken idea about what makes a person unclean, you told the crowd: that which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man. The Pharisees focused on external things; but you locate defilement not in what goes into a person from outside, but in what comes out from within, from the heart. It is the heart, and what it produces, that truly defiles. Show me where you locate the true source of defilement: within, in the heart, not in external things. The problem is not chiefly external, a matter of what I touch or eat or the outward observances I keep; it is internal, a matter of the heart. The heart is the true source of what defiles; and so it is the heart that needs cleansing, not merely the externals. Take that to my heart, for I can focus, like the Pharisees, on the external while neglecting the heart. I can attend carefully to outward observances and appearances, while the heart, the true source of defilement, goes unattended. But you say it is what comes out of the heart that defiles. Keep me from focusing on the external while neglecting my heart; the true source of what defiles me is within. Help me attend to my heart, Lord, the true source of both defilement and cleanness, rather than resting in external observances while the heart goes unexamined. Give me the clean heart that only you can give.