Mark 7:22 belongs to Christ's answer when Pharisees and scribes came to Him with public accusation against His disciples for eating bread without ceremonial washing of hands, which washings He and His disciples did not observe. The accusation rested on numberless rabbinical rules about purification professedly designed to guard the law of God but regarded as more sacred than the law itself and given preference when they collided with the commandments given from Sinai. Neglect of those forms was counted a heinous sin, and a lifetime was scarcely sufficient to learn them all, so that observance became one long struggle against ceremonial defilement in an endless round of washings. While the people were occupied with trifling distinctions and observances God had not required, their attention was turned away from the great principles of His law.
The theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness or lust, evil eye or envy, blasphemy, pride, foolishness and evil thoughts it names proceed out of the human heart from within and defile the person. Evil thoughts coming from within are inspired by Satan. When the light God gives is refused and darkness and unbelief are accepted, the evil already in the heart bears evil fruit. That refusal includes resisting reproof and correction through unjust prejudice, cavils and objections, with no submission to God but working at cross purposes against His will.
When a man rejects the Word of the Lord to establish his own way and will, his own inclinations shape his conduct so that he quibbles over technicalities, joins Satan in criticism over lesser themes, devalues truth, accuses his brethren and turns to the world, and the hatred, criticism and accusation thus developed show how corrupt the inward source has become. Wicked thoughts strengthen and prevail day by day where a person does not partake of Christ, pictured as eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, and become a partaker of the divine nature, and their growth reveals the corruption of their source, the heart. Pride and covetousness come from the carnal heart when it has not been renewed by Christ's grace. When the heart is refined, softened and ennobled, words and actions show the change, and surrender to God brings reliance on His promises, earnest prayer and determined effort to control speech and conduct.
Mark 7:22 belongs to Christ's answer when Pharisees and scribes came to Him with public accusation against His disciples for eating bread without ceremonial washing of hands, which washings He and His disciples did not observe. The accusation rested on numberless rabbinical rules about purification professedly designed to guard the law of God but regarded as more sacred than the law itself and given preference when they collided with the commandments given from Sinai. Neglect of those forms was counted a heinous sin, and a lifetime was scarcely sufficient to learn them all, so that observance became one long struggle against ceremonial defilement in an endless round of washings. While the people were occupied with trifling distinctions and observances God had not required, their attention was turned away from the great principles of His law.
The theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness or lust, evil eye or envy, blasphemy, pride, foolishness and evil thoughts it names proceed out of the human heart from within and defile the person. Evil thoughts coming from within are inspired by Satan. When the light God gives is refused and darkness and unbelief are accepted, the evil already in the heart bears evil fruit. That refusal includes resisting reproof and correction through unjust prejudice, cavils and objections, with no submission to God but working at cross purposes against His will.
When a man rejects the Word of the Lord to establish his own way and will, his own inclinations shape his conduct so that he quibbles over technicalities, joins Satan in criticism over lesser themes, devalues truth, accuses his brethren and turns to the world, and the hatred, criticism and accusation thus developed show how corrupt the inward source has become. Wicked thoughts strengthen and prevail day by day where a person does not partake of Christ, pictured as eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, and become a partaker of the divine nature, and their growth reveals the corruption of their source, the heart. Pride and covetousness come from the carnal heart when it has not been renewed by Christ's grace. When the heart is refined, softened and ennobled, words and actions show the change, and surrender to God brings reliance on His promises, earnest prayer and determined effort to control speech and conduct.