What Proceeds From the Heart
Week 3 – Matthew 11:1-15:39
As recorded in the 15th chapter of Matthew, beginning in verse 1, some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus with the accusation that the disciples had transgressed “the tradition of the elders” by not washing their hands before eating.
Knowing, as we do, the ultimate intent of these religious leaders, answer this question: Which issue do you think the Pharisees were more concerned about: a) the health and well-being of their fellow Jews who were not washing up before dinner like good boys, or b) upholding the religious tradition?
My thought: neither! The scribes and Pharisees wanted nothing other than the death of Jesus. Thus, they would use every tool at their disposal to entrap Him and bring him before the Sanhedrin and High Priest Caiaphas to be condemned.
After rebuking these religious leaders for their own hypocrisy, “… Jesus called the crowd to Him, [and] He said to them, ‘Hear and understand. It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man’.”
When the encounter was over and the disciples were again alone with the Lord, Peter said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.”
Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also?
“Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated?
“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.
“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.
“These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”
So once again, Jesus goes directly to the heart of the matter. He was more interested in the heart of man—and what’s in it—than in the observance of some spiritually empty hand-washing tradition.
He drew the line clearly, showing that men do not condemn themselves by what they eat or what is on their dirty hands when they do, but by what the mouth reveals.
The prophet Jeremiah said:
The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
According to Jesus, we can know the heart by what proceeds out of the mouth.
(So wash your hands and keep your mouth shut. Ha! Just kidding!)
3 Responses to “What Proceeds From the Heart”
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LOL! BD, your comment at the last caught me by surprise… I now have coffee spewed all over my monitor
P
Seriously though, your thoughts were dead on. As if the Pharisees cared about anyone but themselves. It’s such a mindset of shallowness when we use false compassion to further our own purpose.
Chapter 11 was full of meat for me as I read through it. One of the things that stood out to me, was that one word “until”. When John’s disciples were leaving after asking for Jesus’ identity, Jesus told the folks that were with him, “For all the Prophets and law prophesied UNTIL John.” Does this mean a different direction happened at the word “until”?
Then, that ever-so loving invitation: Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” This invitation given, just after he fusses at the population for not believing (woe to unrepentant cities is what my Bible titles that passage)
It was interesting to note, that the first few chapters of this week’s passages had the pharisees watching Jesus at His every move. Anything good thing he did, they found fault with. They were really starting to get on my nerves, when after they fussed about him healing on the sabbath, casting out demons, THEN they wanted a sign??? Give me a break?? Were they not paying attention?
Anyway, moving on, it was heart wrenching, reading about the beheading of John the Baptist, but bittersweet, knowing Jesus knew where he was at, and that, at that point, John the Baptist was safe. Yes, reading through the New Testament through New Covenant eyes gives an entirely different picture than reading it through the eyes of denominational persuasion.
Lisa: I am reading these posts also via Facebook and this link, so its good to get different views on different sides. I am really enjoying finally, reading the new testament, not the way I have done for years, but through new covenant eyes and its surely an eye opening experience!!
Anyway, I had the exact same thought about Chapter 11, where Jesus mentioned “for all the Prophets and law prophesied UNTIL John”..I stopped there for a moment trying to take in what Jesus was trying to say. We have talked about this with my family ( we have 3 boys, ages 10, 9 and 5), about how the old testament has prophesied Jesus for years that now has come true. As we read the 4 Gospel stories, I am sure with New Covenant eyes, we will see all those signs when Jesus shared the new changes that are going to take place after He rose from the dead, that most people at that time didn’t understand what was about to take place.
On another note, the other parts you shared about this week’s chapters are right on and can understand what you are saying~
Hi Stephanie,
How great to be able to discuss the things of God with family! It would be great if you were up to sharing some of their insights on the given scripture. I am really enjoying this–especially the second time around. Makes for good reading and relaxing. Looking forward to reading your posts!