The ‘heart’ of man’s problem!
Scripture reading for January 21: Matthew 15
“And He said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”” Matthew 15:16-20
The Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day had set up many rules for worship of God and often majored on these man-made rules and taught them as God’s doctrine. One such rule was on the washing of one’s hands in order to be clean when eating. Now this was a good rule for cleanliness, but Jesus taught that this was not the major cause of someone being unclean. It went deeper than surface dirt on the hands or face!
Jesus revealed that the human heart was a greater source of uncleanness. This uncleanness is revealed in words, thoughts and actions that break God’s law and bring sin’s defilement which leads to death. Murder, theft, adultery, immorality and lying, all dealt with in God’s Ten Commandments, spring from the heart of sinful man. Because of Adam’s sin, we are born with a sin nature and it comes ‘naturally’! In order to remedy this, the human heart must be cleansed of sin through repentance. Repentance comes from a humble confession of sin and a willingness to turn from it. The heart is willingly surrendered to Christ Jesus as our new “Master” instead of our sin nature. This is understanding that leads to cleansing!
Are you following human rules and effort in order to be a ‘good’ person? Have you humbly encountered Jesus’ teaching about where true defilement comes from? Have you confessed your defilement and by faith received a heart-cleansing?
Prayer: Father God, forgive me for the many ways that I have defiled my own soul through evil thoughts, hatred, lust and greed leading to idolatry. I receive Your cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
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