Evil Things Come From Within - Mark 7:23

Mark wrote when Jesus, “was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable” about being defiled “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 he said, That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness”, and in chapter seven and verse twenty-three of his book, Mark wrote Jesus told His disciples, “all these evil things come from within” where we read:

All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

The verse reads, “All these evil things come from within, ...” Mark began with the words, “all these things” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone of the wicked thoughts and practices mentioned by Jesus” “come from within” or “arise, depart and go forth from inside a person”. Mark shared how Jesus said the “wicked practices and sins” He mentioned arise from the inward part of a person.

The verse continues, “... and defile the man.” Mark added the words, “and defile” which means “and make unclean, render unhallow and profane” “the man” or “the person whether male or female”. Mark shared how Jesus said that which is within a person makes them “unclean and profane”.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see where all the “sin” of the world is derived. Within the “hearts and souls” of people are wicked thoughts and practices, and many of them manifest those ideas externally. God sees both the “inward and outward” parts of people. He knows what they are thinking, and He knows how they act. Because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (See Roman3:23), He sent His Son Jesus to the world to pay the penalty of death on the cross for those wicked ways. No one is exempt, and “there is none righteous, no not one” (See Romans 3:10), so everyone needs Him. Those who are wise will receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” and allow Him to both “forgive” and “cleanse” them from the “wickedness” that is within.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus, “went into the boarders 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. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".