Defilement Comes from Within - Mark 7:20

Mark wrote when Jesus, “was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he said unto them, Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without enters into the man, it cannot defile him. Because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the draught, purging all meats?”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty of his book, Mark wrote Jesus told His disciples, “that which comes out of the man, that defiles” where we read:

And he said, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man.

The verse reads, “And he said, That which comes out of the man, ...” Mark began with the words, “and he said” which means “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “that which comes out of” or “that which goes forth, issues and proceeds from” “the man” which refers to “the person whether male or female”. Mark shared how Jesus referred to that which proceeds from the “inside” of people.

The verse goes on to say, “... that defiles the man.” Mark continued with the words, “that defiles” or “makes unclean, renders unhallowed and profanes” “the man” which refers to “any person whether male or female”? Mark shared how a person is “unclean and profane” by what proceeds from within them.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how it is what is in the “heart and soul” of a person that “makes them unclean”. In other words, what a person is like within their “soul” is revealed by their outward actions, attitudes and behavior. If they are “corrupt” in their “souls”, they shall behave in a manner that reveals it. If they are “cleansed” from their evil ways within their “souls”, they shall speak, act and have attitudes that reveal it. God loves people, and His desire is to “save” them from their “sinful” hearts and make them righteous before His eyes. When a person yields their life to Jesus, God begins to “cleanse them” and makes them whole. (See 1 John 1:9)

Next time Mark shares how Jesus explains to His disciples, “out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders”, 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".