Matthew 15: 10-20
Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean,’
Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
He replied, “Every plant that my Heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
“Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things make a man ‘unclean.’ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander, These are what make a man ‘unclean’; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him ‘unclean’.”
A Thought
Some of the teachers of the law had just asked Jesus why his disciples did not follow the tradition of the elders by washing their hands before they eat. In return Jesus had then asked them why they chose to follow their tradition and break the command of God? The disciples knew the Pharisees were offended and asked Jesus to explain his question to them. Jesus explains that not every guide can see the way that leads to his Heavenly Father. Leave the blind guides alone, God will pull them up by their roots and through them into a pit. What things that go into the mouth are not the things that defile a man; it is what things come from the heart–evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander that defile him. Guard what things you permit to enter your heart! Beware of who you are following, they may lead you into a pit!
Our Prayer
Father thank you for the Bible, that we may hide its’ word of hope in our heart and not sin against you. Lead us by your Holy Spirit that we will recognize any false teachers, any ungodly music, any ungodly programs, or any evil thoughts and leave them alone. We desire to be reconciled to you and to bring honor to you in all we do and say. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.
