Unwashed Hands Do Not Defile - Matthew 15:20

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples, “to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man” where we read:

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man.

The verse reads, “These are the things which defile a man:”. Matthew began with the words, “these are the things” which means “evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies” “which defile” or “are that which pollute, render unhallowed, profane and make unclean” “a man” which means “a person whether male or female”. Matthew shared how the “wicked issues of the heart” are what makes a person “profane and unclean”.

The verse goes on to say, “but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man.” Matthew added the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “to eat” or “to consume or devour” “with unwashed hands” which means “with hands that are without ablution and cleaning” “defiles not” or “does not pollute, render unhallowed, profane and make unclean” “a man” which means “a person whether male or female”. Matthew shared Jesus said having “hands that are not clean” does not “profane and render” a person as “unhallowed”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “spiritual” nature of a person makes them “clean” or “unclean” before God and not the “physical”. A person may be a “germaphobe” outwardly and still have a “heart” that is “deceitfully wicked and evil”. God desires truth and purity from within, and only He is able to make a person's “heart” completely “whole”. All outward attempts to cleanse the inward parts are fruitless because God has reserved that special work to all who will yield their lives to His Son Jesus.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon”, 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.