Knowing The Word in Matthew 15:10-20

What Defiles a Person

10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand [another parable]: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” [Jesus’ words make a reference to original sin, that sin springs from within a person and not his environment. Additionally, Mark makes the point that by saying this Jesus made all foods clean in 7:19] 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” [Duh, Jesus has cut at the root of their understanding of religion.] 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. [Referring to the wheat and weeds? Jesus rejects their leadership.] 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” [Their failure to discern the will of God is disastrous not only to themselves but to their followers as well.] 15 But Peter [the leader who is slow to understand] said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled [literally “passed into the latrine”? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart [the source of a person’s true character], and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”