All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
This saying closes the answer given to the Pharisees and scribes when they charged the disciples with eating bread without washing hands according to the tradition of the elders. That charge rested on traditional precepts that encumbered the law of God and were regarded as more sacred than the law itself, being given preference when they collided with the commandments given from Sinai. The tradition most strenuously enforced was ceremonial purification before eating, whose neglect was counted a heinous sin punishable in this world and the next, whose rules were numberless, and whose observance made life one long struggle against ceremonial defilement in an endless round of washings and purifications. While the people were occupied with these trifling distinctions which God had not required, their attention was turned away from the great principles of His law.
True defilement does not come from outward neglect of man-made purification but comes from within, out of the heart, and defiles the person. The evils from within include pride, vanity, evil temper, and covetousness arising from the carnal, unrenewed heart. The defilement rises from inside where evil thoughts inspired by Satan take form and prove how corrupt the inner source is. Wicked thoughts take hold and prevail day by day when a person does not partake of Christ by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God and does not become a partaker of the divine nature.
When a person rejects the Word of the Lord and sets up his own way and will instead of doing all to the glory of God, his own inclinations govern his conduct and build him up wrongly. The inward evil then grows into quibbling over technicalities and manners, joining Satan to criticize over less important themes, valuing truth less and less, accusing brethren, turning against leaders, weighing the outside world above the flood of light once rejoiced in, and becoming full of hatred against God when danger and wrong are exposed. When grace refines and softens the heart, the change appears in words and actions, and surrender to God leads to trusting His promises, earnest prayer, and determined effort to govern speech and conduct.
This saying closes the answer given to the Pharisees and scribes when they charged the disciples with eating bread without washing hands according to the tradition of the elders. That charge rested on traditional precepts that encumbered the law of God and were regarded as more sacred than the law itself, being given preference when they collided with the commandments given from Sinai. The tradition most strenuously enforced was ceremonial purification before eating, whose neglect was counted a heinous sin punishable in this world and the next, whose rules were numberless, and whose observance made life one long struggle against ceremonial defilement in an endless round of washings and purifications. While the people were occupied with these trifling distinctions which God had not required, their attention was turned away from the great principles of His law.
True defilement does not come from outward neglect of man-made purification but comes from within, out of the heart, and defiles the person. The evils from within include pride, vanity, evil temper, and covetousness arising from the carnal, unrenewed heart. The defilement rises from inside where evil thoughts inspired by Satan take form and prove how corrupt the inner source is. Wicked thoughts take hold and prevail day by day when a person does not partake of Christ by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God and does not become a partaker of the divine nature.
When a person rejects the Word of the Lord and sets up his own way and will instead of doing all to the glory of God, his own inclinations govern his conduct and build him up wrongly. The inward evil then grows into quibbling over technicalities and manners, joining Satan to criticize over less important themes, valuing truth less and less, accusing brethren, turning against leaders, weighing the outside world above the flood of light once rejoiced in, and becoming full of hatred against God when danger and wrong are exposed. When grace refines and softens the heart, the change appears in words and actions, and surrender to God leads to trusting His promises, earnest prayer, and determined effort to govern speech and conduct.