Things from the Heart - Matthew 15:18

Matthew the apostle wrote, “Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Do you know that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are you also yet without understanding? Do not you yet understand, that whatsoever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?”, and in chapter fifteen and verse eighteen of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples, “those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart” where we read:

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

The verse reads, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart;”. Matthew began with the words, “but those things” which means “nevertheless, moreover and the actions, attitudes, speech and thinking” “which proceed” or “that come forth, arise, issue and flow” “out of the mouth” which means “away from the orifice in the face which is used for eating and speaking” “come forth” or “proceed and flow” “from the heart” which refers to “separate and out of the soul or mind as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”. Matthew shared how Jesus indited the “heart” or “soul” of a person as being the source of things shared from the “mouth”.

The verse goes on to say, “and they defile the man.” Matthew continued with the words, “and they” which means “and the actions, attitudes, speech and thinking from the heart” “defile” which means “make unclean, render unhallowed and profane” “the man” which refers to “a person whether male or female”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to way the “issues of the heart” “corrupt and profane” a person.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “heart” of a person determines their attitude, actions, speech and thinking. When a “heart” is corrupt, productivity from it is wicked and evil, and when a “heart” is pure, it brings forth “goodness, mercy, kindness and grace”. God has a pure heart, and His desire is to “save” people from their “sinful hearts” through His Son Jesus. Jesus came to die for “wicked hearts” that produce evil “thinking, attitudes, actions and speech”, and until a person yields their life to Jesus Christ, their physical bodies make them easily identifiable by the deliberation of their “souls”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus tells His disciples what proceeds from, “out of the heart”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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