What Defiles a Man - Mark 7:15

Mark wrote how Jesus said to the Pharisees and scribes, “Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whosoever curses father or mother, let him die the death. But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me; he shall be free. And you suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like things do you. And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:”, and in chapter seven and verse fifteen of his book, Mark wrote how Jesus told the people, “there is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him” where we read:

There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him:

but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

The verse reads, “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him:” Mark began with the words, “there is nothing” which means “there exists not one thing or anything at all” “from without a man” or “external and outward from a person whether male or female”, “that entering into him” which means “that coming into a person” “can defile him” or “is capable and able to pollute, profane or make a person ceremonially unclean”. Mark shared how Jesus said “not one thing” external is able to make a person “ceremonially” unclean.

The verse continues, “but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.” Mark added the words, “but the things which come” which means “however, nonetheless, nevertheless, more over and what goes forth, departs and proceeds” “out of him” or “from the inward portion of the person”, “those are they” which means “those are the things” “that defile the man” or “which are capable and able to pollute, profane or make a person ceremonially unclean”. Mark shared how it is what is on the “inside” of a person, within their heart, that makes that person “unclean”.

When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus corrected the “religious leaders'” idea that “outward filth” makes a person “unclean”. Jesus said, it's the inward part of a person that makes them “ceremonially defiled”. What a person thinks about, is driven toward and follows from within them is what makes them “worthy” or “unworthy” before God. God knows the thoughts and ideas of every person, and He came to align those thoughts with His ideas for living. He sent His Son Jesus to die not only for the “sins” manifested outwardly in people, but also the thoughts from within. Those who are wise will submit themselves to Jesus both outwardly and inwardly that He may “cleanse” them according to His ways and plan. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” (See Psalm 51:10)

Next time Mark shares how Jesus tells the people, “if any man have ears to hear, let him hear”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".