Matthew 15:1-20
The Spiritual Heart
1 Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”
3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
8 “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.’”
10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
True spirituality isn't merely about external religious practices or adherence to rules...It is about a genuine transformation of the heart...Jesus consistently emphasized the importance of the heart in His teachings...The heart is the center of our Spiritual needs...He understood that the heart is the wellspring of human thought, emotion, and action...It is the seat of our motivations, desires, and beliefs...
Jesus' teaching in Matthew 15:11 underscores the importance of the heart...He emphasized that true defilement comes from within, from the heart's sinful desires and intentions...External rituals and religious practices, while important, are not sufficient for spiritual purity...
But this is not the only the importance of the heart matters...In Matthew 11:29 Jesus tells us –Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls...Again in Matthew 12:34 – You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good?...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks...Jesus teaches us in Matthew 13:15 – For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes...Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them...Jesus tells us this in Matthew 15:18-20 – But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’..These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them...For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander...And we learn more in Matthew 18:35 –This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart...And again in Matthew 22:37 – Jesus replied: Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...
Jesus teaches us in Mark 7:21-22 – For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly...
Jesus says in Luke 6:45 – The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart...For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks...And in Luke 21:34 Jesus teaches – Watch out!...Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life...
In John 7:38, Jesus tells us – Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!...For the Scriptures declare, Rivers of living water will flow from his heart...And in John 14:1 we learn that – [ Jesus, is the Way to the Father ] “Don’t let your hearts be troubled...Trust in God, and trust also in me...And again in John 14:27 – I AMm leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and peace of heart...And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give...So do not be troubled or afraid...
Jesus' teachings and message is clear: true transformation begins in the heart...External religious practices, such as fasting, prayer, and tithing, are important but ultimately insufficient...What matters most is the condition of our hearts...Jesus calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind...This love should extend to our neighbors as well...A humble heart recognizes its dependence on God and its need for His Grace...It is free from pride and arrogance...Faith is the foundation of a Christian life...It involves trusting in God's promises from a sincere heart and believing in His power to work in our lives...Jesus teaches us to forgive others as we have been forgiven...This requires a heart that is willing to let go of resentment and bitterness...A pure heart is one that is free from sin and devoted to God...It is a heart that desires to please God in all things...
By focusing on the heart, Jesus highlights the spiritual nature of true religion...It's not just about outward appearances or religious rituals; it's about an inward transformation that affects every aspect of our lives...When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, we can experience the true meaning of life: a life of love, joy, and peace...