Holiness Comes From Within: Matthew 15:15-20
“16) Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also? 17) Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? 18) But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19) For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20) These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”” Matthew 15:16-20
The problem with religion is that it thinks God is only concerned about the outside. But those who are born-again know that God owns both the inside and the outside. It is not things like foods that go into the mouth that defile a person, but things that come from the heart.
The Pharisees were great at dressing up the outside, but inwardly were full of evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, theft, lying and slander. In fact, as they stood in the presence of Jesus, they were plotting His death. They were jealous, angry, bitter and vengeful. They were the true defiled ones.
These inward things reveal the heart of people. When a person becomes a Christan, the Holy Spirit comes in and begins to clean up the inside. Holiness is from the inside to the outside.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
