“Not that by A. S. Hutchins

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 7, 1866

“Not that

By A. S. Hutchins

Which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.” Matt. xv, 11.

This declaration was made by the Saviour, to the Pharisees, who found fault with his disciples for eating bread with unwashed hands. They had thereby transgressed the tradition of the elders, which was a matter of uneasiness to the Pharisees.

The Saviour took this occasion to impress upon their minds, the infinite superiority of his Father’s commandments, over the traditions of men.

He therefore directs their attention to the heart, the fountain of all good or evil; for which they had much less care than for external things. He enumerates a class of sins proceeding from the heart, and says, “All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

But is it possible that the Son of God here intended to teach that nothing could be taken into the mouth or stomach, which would or could defile us? Had the people of God then reached the time when the text “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man,” would vindicate them against the charge of defilement, let them eat whatsoever they might? If so, then truly, the tobacco chewer and pork eater, has at least one favorite text of Scripture to the point.

But let us bear in mind that Jesus was instructing a people that drew nigh unto him with their “mouth,” and honored him with their “lips,” “but their heart” says he, “is far from me.” They laid aside the commandments of God for the tradition of men; they made more of external washing than of inward purity and of a clean heart.

The Saviour aims to correct this error, this dark and destructive hypocrisy. Yet we are of the decided opinion that the great Teacher of truth and purity believed in eating with clean hands, though they were not washed out of respect to Jewish superstition, or Pharisaical tradition.

Said the Lord to his people anciently, “That which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith.” Lev. xxii, 8.

Again, we learn that Daniel would not “defile” himself with the king’s meat, Dan. i, but chose rather a vegetable diet. By which means he had a clear conscience, a countenance fairer, and more flesh (that lawful too) than all the children which did eat of the portion of the king’s meat.

Let us then cease to gratify a perverted and vitiated appetite, let us not foster sinful habits or indulge ourselves in the use of those things which we know are injurious to health and prejudicial to our spirituality. And above all cease to justify, or attempt to justify a course from the word of God which leads to death.

A clear mind and communion with God will ten thousand times pay for all the sacrifice we make. In the day when the Lord shall gather his saints unto him, who have “made a covenant with him by sacrifice,” we shall then know that our sacrifices have proved sacrifices for gain and great glory.

A. S. HUTCHINS.