Mark 7:13-23, What Defiles a Person

14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand [what Jesus is getting ready to say is of such importance that he wants the crowd to hear it as well, not just the theological commission]: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” [What exactly is Jesus saying? Sin is not an outward issue but an inward reality. Our sin comes from within, not from without. For the Pharisees, defilement came from contact with external uncleanliness. They assume an initial clean state of the human condition that must be protected. Jesus assumes just the opposite—that humans are already defiled in their thoughts. There is a world of difference between these two positions. This is where we get the Anglican understanding of Original Sin. This is Article IX of the 39 Articles of Religion: “Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam, (as the Pelagians do vainly talk;) but it is the fault and corruption of the Nature of every man, that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the Spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea in them that are regenerated; whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek, Φρόνημα σαρκός, (which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire, of the flesh), is not subject to the Law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized; yet the Apostle doth confess, that concupiscence and lust hath of itself the nature of sin.”] 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. [They do not understand. This explanation will also help the early Church understand the teachings of Jesus.] 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? [“Are you as blind as the Pharisees?”] Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach [the “heart” is the inner mind of a person and is the core of the problem], and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) [Why does Jesus suddenly “undo” the Food Laws? He is fulfilling their purposes.] 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. [All sin is first conceived in the mind before acted upon by people. We think about sinning before we sin.] 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” [The core of the Law is loving God and loving neighbor, not practicing cleanliness rules. We sin because we do not love properly. Why is the doctrine of Original Sin important to us as Christians?]

[The Food Laws: The purpose of the food laws in Leviticus 11:1-47 was to instill an awareness of God’s holiness and of the reality of sin as a barrier to fellowship with God. But once defilement of the heart is thoroughly removed and full fellowship with God becomes a reality through the atoning death of Jesus, the ceremonial laws have fulfilled their purpose and are no longer required.]