The Heart is the Key

By Mary Vee
Mark 7, Matthew 15

Peter

Photo by Mary Vee
The ruins of the synagogue in Capernaum

Jesus called to the people milling about. 

When they gathered close he said, "Please listen. Everyone. Listen closely and I will teach you. 

The people quieted.

Jesus said, "Nothing outside of a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Food and drink going into you does not make you unclean. What makes a person unclean is what comes out of that person."

I and the other disciples had heard the Pharisees in the crowd grumbling. We went to Jesus privately and said, "The Pharisees were offended when they heard what you said."

The people have always gone to the Pharisees to understand the law. The Pharisees have taught what should be eaten, what shouldn't be eaten, when to rest, when to work, and so much more. They have worked to make the law clear to the people. They have also made so many rules no one can remember all of them.

Jesus said, "If a plant grows that has not been planted by my heavenly Father, it will be pulled up by its roots. Leave the Pharisees, they are like guides who are blind. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

I wasn't exactly sure what Jesus meant by 'unclean,' so I asked, "Explain the parable to us."

"Don't you see that when food or drink goes into a man, it goes into his stomach then out of his body? The Pharisees require men not to eat certain foods as though the food itself had sinned. But these foods do not go to a man's heart, which is where sin resides. 

"It is the heart that makes a man unclean. Out of men's hearts come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All of these evils come from inside. They come from the heart and makes a man 'unclean.'

His explanation was so clear to me. The Pharisees had added requirements to the law. We are sinners from birth, and it has infected our heart. Eating or not eating certain foods and drinking or not drinking a beverage will not make us clean. 

There is nothing we can do to rid our hearts from sin. Only Jesus the Christ can make us clean. I have so much more to learn from Jesus. To do this, I have devoted my life to listening to His teachings and learning from Him.

 Come back to read the next story.

*Author of blog's note: If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section. I will see them and will answer as best I can or direct you to a source.


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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.