My apologies for missing yesterday. As I sat down to write, my wrist ached too much, forcing me to postpone. When I pulled up today's verse, I was amused to see that, much to my surprise, it was pretty well the same as yesterdays. So I will share them both here:
Matthew 15:11 "What goes into someone’s mouth
does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
Matthew 15:18 "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth
come from the heart, and these defile them."
This entire passage, Matthew 15:1- 20 deals with the Pharisees coming after Jesus for not following "traditions", specifically ceremonial hand washing before meals. Jesus retorts that they break God's law to uphold their tradition (please read the entire passage for better understanding). Then He explains that which we put in of our mouths isn't the problem, it's that which we spew from our mouths that shows our true heart.
One can eat all the right and good things, but that will never make them "good'. It seems to me that this is a comparison of works versus faith. Relying upon what you put into your body to make you holy and pure is tantamount to relying upon works to make you pure and righteous. But that can never change our heart. We must receive a heart change in order that we can put forth good and pure things from our mouths.
We are defiled by what we speak, the words that portray the inner heart that we try to hide. Ask yourself, have I defiled myself with my words recently? Pray for the heart change necessary to change the words of your mouth.
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