Mark 7:14-23: a reflection

14He called all the multitude to himself and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. 15There is nothing from outside of the man that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. 16If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” 17When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him, 19because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, making all foods clean?” 20He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. 21For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, 22covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within and defile the man.”

When some criticized his disciples for eating without the ceremonial washings, Jesus taught a deeper truth about what really defiles a person: not what enters from outside, but what comes out of the heart within. There is nothing from outside of the man that going into him can defile him, he said; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. And he explained: from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts and all manner of wickedness; these are what defile. Real defilement is not a matter of outward things, of what we touch or eat, but of the heart within, from which evil proceeds. The problem is not primarily outside us but inside us, in the heart. To attend to outward cleanness while neglecting the heart is to miss where defilement truly lies. What defiles us comes from within, from the heart; and it is the heart, therefore, that most needs attention. The source of defilement is the heart within, not the world without.

Notice where Jesus locates real defilement: not in outward things, but in the heart within. The things that truly defile a person do not come from outside, from what we touch or eat; they come from within, from the heart, out of which proceed evil thoughts and every kind of wickedness. This turns our attention from the outward to the inward. We can be careful about outward cleanness, outward observance, outward appearances, while neglecting the heart, which is where defilement actually originates. But it is the heart that most needs our attention, for from it comes what truly defiles. To focus on outward things while leaving the heart unattended is to miss the real source of the problem. The heart is where defilement begins, and so the heart is what we must most watch and tend. Jesus calls us to attend to the inward, to the heart, from which our real defilement flows, rather than resting in outward cleanness. Guarding the heart is more important than guarding outward appearances. The heart is the wellspring; from it defilement flows.

That is worth taking to heart, for what truly defiles us comes from within, from the heart, and it is the heart we must most attend to. We can be careful about outward things, outward cleanness and appearance, while leaving the heart unattended; but Jesus teaches that real defilement comes not from outside but from within, from the heart, out of which proceed evil thoughts and wickedness. It is the heart, therefore, that most needs our attention. Do not attend to outward cleanness while neglecting the heart; the heart is where defilement truly originates, and the heart is what we must most watch and tend. Attend to your heart, from which real defilement flows, rather than resting in outward cleanness, as Jesus taught that nothing from outside defiles a person, but the things that proceed from within, out of the heart, are what defile; for real defilement is not a matter of outward things we touch or eat but of the heart within, from which evil proceeds, and it is the heart, therefore, that most needs our watching and tending, since to focus on outward appearances while leaving the heart unattended is to miss the true source of the problem.

Lord Jesus, when some criticized your disciples for eating without the ceremonial washings, you taught a deeper truth about what really defiles a person: not what enters from outside, but what comes out of the heart within. There is nothing from outside of the man that going into him can defile him, you said; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. And you explained: from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts and all manner of wickedness; these are what defile. Real defilement is not a matter of outward things, of what we touch or eat, but of the heart within. Show me where you locate real defilement: not in outward things, but in the heart within. The things that truly defile a person come from within, from the heart, out of which proceed evil thoughts and every kind of wickedness. This turns my attention from the outward to the inward. I can be careful about outward cleanness, outward observance, outward appearances, while neglecting the heart, which is where defilement actually originates. But it is the heart that most needs my attention. To focus on outward things while leaving the heart unattended is to miss the real source of the problem. Take that to my heart, for what truly defiles me comes from within, and it is the heart I must most attend to. I can be careful about outward things while leaving the heart unattended; but you teach that real defilement comes from within. It is the heart, therefore, that most needs my attention. Keep me from attending to outward cleanness while neglecting the heart; help me attend to my heart, Lord, from which real defilement flows, watching and tending it, as you taught that the things which proceed from within, out of the heart, are what defile.