3153.—That Which Defiles
By Editor
Please explain the passage of Scripture which says, “What goeth into the mouth does not defile the man; but that which cometh out.” The passage is found in Matthew the 15th chapter and the 11th verse, and the lesson continues to verse 20. Note first that Jesus did not have under discussion what men should eat and what they should not eat; He was talking to those who were strict regarding their diet, and because of this they criticized Christ because He had eaten with unwashed hands. Whenever they came in from market or elsewhere, they always washed their hands before they ate. His disciples did not always do this; they had not been brought up in the school of the Pharisees; some of them had been rough fishermen, paying little attention to the scrupulous ceremonies of the Pharisees; therefore the question of diet was not the question under consideration, but the question of ceremonialism against true heart work. The Jews were very scrupulous over tradition, but by that very tradition they broke the commandments of God. The real heart service comes from within; the real evils which men do, germinate in the heart, and “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” So it is the heart itself that needs cleansing above all things else; and he whose heart is truly cleansed and truly given to God, will not dwell upon meaningless ceremonies, but will aim to carry out in his life the instruction given in 1 Cor. 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”