The Parable of the Heart of Man
This parable is teaching us that although it is important to wash our hands before we eat a meal; it is even more important to understand that it is what is coming out of our mouths that hurt us.
Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23
The scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem came to Jesus and ask Him why his disciples turned from the tradition of the elders. They said that the disciples did not wash their hands when they ate bread.
Jesus asked the scribes and Pharisees why they turn away from the commandments of God by their tradition? For the LORD God commanded; Honor your father and mother; and, those that curse father or mother, let him die the death.
But you scribes and Pharisees say to his father or his mother, it is a gift, by whatsoever you might be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Then Jesus called them hypocrites and reminded that the Isaiah prophesied of them saying; this people draws unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Jesus then called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
That it is not that which goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
The disciples said to Jesus that the Pharisees were offended after they heard what he had said to the multitude.
Jesus answered and said, every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Then Peter asked Jesus to explain the parable he had just spoken.
Jesus asked you also are yet without understanding: Do not you yet understand that whatsoever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the toilet? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
You see out of the heart precede evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.
What Can Be Learned From This Lesson?
This parable is teaching us that although it is important to wash our hands before we eat a meal; it is even more important to understand that it is what is coming out of our mouths that hurt us.
Have you ever gotten mad at someone you love and you start really yelling at them and saying mean things? Yes, we all have done that. We also have had it happen to us when someone we love has gotten made at us and started yelling and saying mean things. How did you feel? Don’t you think everyone feels that way? What can you do to stop the bad things that come out of your mouth?
Jesus explained to the disciples that what comes out of the mouth from the heart and defile the man. You see out of the heart precede evil thoughts; this could be questioning about what is true, doubting an inward reasoning. The murders are self-explanatory. Jesus said adultery which is infidelity, betrayal, deceitfulness, and faithlessness. Fornications are really bad and deals with adultery, and illicit or forbidden sexual deviancy. The next that Jesus mentioned was thefts we all know what that means. False witness is lying and giving false testimony. Then there is blasphemies which are injuries done by speech of another person’s good name. It is defamation of a person’s character or insulting the worth of a person.
These are the things which defile a person. Not washing the hands before eating only defiles the belly. It does not defile the inside of a person.
What are ways in which you can control what comes out of your mouth?
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Parable of the Heart of Man:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Jan 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1885,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, January) “The Parable of the Heart of Man:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1885,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Parable of the Heart of Man:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (January), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=1885, (accessed).
