Dealing With Defilement

This morning I am reading from Mark 7:14-16, 20-23 NIV:

[14] "Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. [15] Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”

[20] He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. [21] For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come---sexual immorality, theft, murder, [22] adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. [23] All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Jesus, in this instance, is talking about food, for the disciples had not been careful to wash before eating, and the pharisees were all over that defilement. Jesus was addressing the issue of actions not aligning with ones heart, for even though they observed the external components of the law, in their hearts the pharisees were far from God.

The defilement Jesus is speaking about is based on the law, and all the different things one could do to make oneself unclean. Being unclean would affect Your ability to come into the presence of God, and it could only be resolved by sacrifice. The following verses are some of the first that describe this process - Leviticus 5:5-6, 13 NIV:

[5] ..."when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. [6] As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering ; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.

[13] In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven. The rest of the offering will belong to the priest, as in the case of the grain offering. ’ ”

Thank God that we are no longer under this dispensation, under the law. Jesus was addressing the fact that it is the heart that matters. He had this same theme on His sermon on the Mount ( Matt 5-7), taking the Law and expanding its definition to include the ways of the heart. The Lord is after our hearts, the very depth of our nature, being changed into His likeliness. It isn't enough to fulfill the external rules and regulations without changing our heart and mind.

The good news is that the Lord promised us new hearts (Ezek 36:26) and renew our minds (Rom 12:2). He has taken away our guilt and paid for our sins. We have the opportunity, in Him, to be clean.

Amen Lord, cleanse us of all that defiles us. Give us new hearts and renew our minds.