10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled?18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (Matthew 15)
The Pharisees were offended. That wasn't anything new. The disciples were confused. That wasn't anything new either. So, as Jesus intended, they asked Him about it. They needed to know how His statement about one's mouth had to do with the Pharisees offense over His disciples' lack of washing their hands. His response is classic. What goes into our mouth doesn't reveal as much about us as what comes out of it. For these Jewish people: the Pharisses, disciples, and the crowd, what they ate, how they ate with, with whom they ate it had great significance; it made a statement about who they were in relationship to God. But what makes a bolder statement is how we live, which is reflected by what we say, which gives a glimpse of what is within our hearts. They show where the changes really need to take place in our lives. Taste your words today. Does what you say match up with who you are? What do they show about your real reverence for God and respect for others?
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