OUTSIDE VS. INSIDE
MARK 7:18-23
MARK 7:18-23 NKJ
18 So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?" 20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
I appreciate the different perspectives that we see in the four gospels.
Matthew presents the Jewish mindset and quotes many Old Testament scriptures. Luke gives a more detailed version geared toward the Gentiles. John, my favorite gospel, presents a perspective of Jesus, not covered by the other three gospels. John was also writing sixty years after the other writers, filling in some of the gaps. Mark is the briefest and maybe the most to the point. He skips Jesus' birth and just jumps right in. For those of us who tend to be a more bottom-line type A personalities, Mark is the guy.
In this passage, Jesus is addressing a common theme. Jewish law versus God's grace and truth.
Jewish law dealt with many rules and regulations. And the religious leaders had added many of their own ideas over the years. In this passage, the biggest issue is the food you eat. Jewish law had many dos and don'ts in this area. But Jesus is revealing a greater truth. It's not what you eat that makes you right or wrong before God. It's what comes out of you. Jesus had once again flipped the script on the religious leaders. Food enters the stomach, not the heart. And then Jesus lists things that originate in the heart and cause real problems. He placed the emphasis on inside things as opposed to outside things. Bottom line, it's the inside things that we need to be the most concerned with.
APPLICATION:
Do not read this list of defiling things that come from the heart and be discouraged. These things do not have to come from your heart. When you make Jesus Lord and Savior, you now have the capacity to have love, joy, peace, moral excellence, godliness, self-control, and a host of good things come from your heart. Not that we don't guard our hearts. There are always negative things to deal with. But the negatives are not your destiny. To have Christ-like character come from your heart is what you are called to. It's not automatic, but it's available.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Father, that You are more interested in what comes out of me, the inside things. Thank You for the ability to have good things come from my heart. Things that glorify You.