What Defiles a Man
What comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
All the glory, praises and honor be to the Holy Father in Jesus’ precious name!
Though the subject verse talks about what defiles a man, but it is more concerned about our attitude. Yes, it is about our attitude towards the Almighty God. The subject verse is Jesus’ reply to the scribes and Pharisees. For they tried to coax Him along with His disciples of breaking the law. They expressed displeasure because of His disciples not washing their hands before eating. Though there is no actual law that enforces washing of hands before eating, but it certainly is their self-enforced practice. Yes, this practice is not from God which they are passing it off as part of the actual Law.
Jesus therefore countered the scribes and Pharisees of their practices that break the actual commandment of God. Their act of not honoring their father and mother for tradition is indeed against the commandment of God. This hypocrisy on their part is not limited to breaking the Law. But also in their application of self-made religious obligations. It is obvious that they are interested in their religious duties or obligations rather than God.
We speak from inside our hearts
Emphatically, Jesus answered them that not what goes into the mouth defiles a man but what comes out of it. Though this statement was not His endorsement to eat with uncleaned hands, but certainly fairer than their hypocrisy. Rather than the food what goes inside is of any importance, but it is what comes out of our mouth. For we speak what is inside our hearts. As the following verse says, it is what one speaks out from the heart that defile a man.
‘But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ‘
Matthew 15:18 NKJV
Therefore, keeping religious obligations while keeping our hearts away from God does not do any good. Neither is it of any worth to us nor does it bring any delight to the Almighty God. Love the God most and submit to His will. Seek Jesus to cleanse our hearts so that we are filled with what is good in the sight of the Almighty God. For what comes out from us shall also be good.
In Jesus matchless name. Amen.