“Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.”
(Mark 7:18-20)
It was tradition in this time for the Jews to wash their hands in a specific way to eat that they might not defile themselves from the outside. But Jesus was addressing their heart defilement...
To defile is to spoil, mar, degrade, desecrate, or profane. The corrupted, darkened state of our hearts can defile us, spoil His goodness, mar his mercy, degrade His works and profane His name!
Isaiah prophesied of hypocrites and Jesus recalled his words, as it is written "This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." (Mark 7:6-7)
No amount of washing, smiling, masking, faking or facade hides our hearts from our God...
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” (Hebrews 4:13)
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
(Galatians 6:7)
Lord, let me not grieve your heart by the darkened condition of mine...
