That Which Defiles

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In Mark 7 the subtitle of the chapter is That Which Defiles. We are coming into a time of the year on God's calendar, when everything was to be righted by the Day of Atonement(Sept 15-16). During this time the people would make sure not to defile themselves. But Jesus said it is the things that come from within that defile us. In Mark 7 the religious leaders are giving the disciples of Jesus a hard time because they are eating without washing their hands. Jesus went on to say that it is what comes from within that defiles, which is why what we are meditating on and thinking about is so important. 

Here are his words from Mark 7:17-23

17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)

20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

As we take communion today let it be a time to remember that God is greater than our hearts and he has rolled away our old hearts and given us new hearts with his laws written on them. It is his grace that softens our hearts and helps us do good. 

I am praying for you. 

Daniel