Matt 15:11 What comes out that defies us.

 Here’s an in-depth exploration of **Matthew 15:11**, where Jesus overturns religious legalism to reveal the true source of defilement—the heart:

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### 📖 **Matthew 15:11 (NIV)**  

*"What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."*  

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### 🔍 **Context & Meaning**  

1. **Setting**:  

   Jesus confronts Pharisees who criticized His disciples for eating with unwashed hands, violating Jewish ritual purity traditions (Matthew 15:1–2).  

   - **His Response**:  

     - Exposes their hypocrisy: They prioritized human traditions over God’s commands (e.g., neglecting parental care under the guise of religious vows, Matthew 15:3–6).  

     - Quotes Isaiah 29:13: *"Their worship is vain; their teachings are man-made rules"*.  

2. **Key Teaching**:  

   - **External vs. Internal Purity**:  

     - Food (entering the body) is morally neutral (Mark 7:19; Acts 10:15).  

     - **True defilement** comes from evil speech and actions, which flow from a corrupt heart (Matthew 15:18–20).  

3. **Heart as the Source**:  

   Jesus lists heart-generated sins:  

   > *"Evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander"* (Matthew 15:19).  

   - Echoes Jeremiah 17:9: *"The heart is deceitful above all things..."*.  

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### ✨ **Theological Implications**  

1. **End of Ritual Purity Laws**:  

   - Jesus declares all foods clean (implied in Mark 7:19), fulfilling and transcending Old Testament dietary laws (Leviticus 11).  

   - Paul later affirms: *"Nothing is unclean in itself"* (Romans 14:14).  

2. **Priority of the Heart**:  

   - God judges motives, not outward compliance (1 Samuel 16:7).  

   - True worship requires heart transformation (Psalm 51:10).  

3. **Power of Words**:  

   - Speech reveals spiritual condition (Proverbs 18:21; James 3:6–10).  

   - Jesus’ emphasis parallels His warning: *"By your words you will be justified or condemned"* (Matthew 12:37).  

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### 💡 **Modern Application**  

1. **Check Your Heart**:  

   - Are my words life-giving or destructive (Ephesians 4:29)?  

   - Do I judge others’ externals while ignoring my inner sin?  

2. **Reject Legalism**:  

   - Avoid elevating human traditions (e.g., strict diets, dress codes) above love and mercy (Colossians 2:20–23).  

3. **Seek Inner Renewal**:  

   - Invite the Holy Spirit to cleanse *"the thoughts and intents of the heart"* (Hebrews 4:12).  

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### ⚖️ **Contrast with Pharisees**  

| **Pharisees’ Focus** | **Jesus’ Teaching** |  

|-----------------------|----------------------|  

| Outward rituals (handwashing) | Inward purity (heart) |  

| Man-made traditions | God’s moral law |  

| Judgment of others | Self-examination |  

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### 🌿 **Prayer from the Passage**  

*"Lord, purify my heart so my words reflect Your grace. Help me honor You not with lip service, but with a life rooted in love. Amen."*  

This verse remains a timeless call to authentic faith—where actions flow from a heart surrendered to God. For deeper study, explore Matthew 15:10–20.