THE GOSPEL OF MARK "Behold My Servant!"

Jesus goes to the heart of the matter               Mark chapter 7vv1-23

PART 2        The true nature of defilement          verses 14-23

He calls all the multitude apart from the religious leaders who are distorting their thinking.   His words are plain, authoritative, and solemn.  

"Hearken unto me every one of you and understand, there is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him; but those things which come out of him, those are they which defile the man."

This fundamental observation cuts across every religion in the world, that defilement is internal in the heart of man, and the externals are of negligible importance.   Attention to mere external ceremony is irrelevant if it is not from the heart;   the way to man's salvation is not an outward change but an inward one at the very centre of our beings.   Changing our environment is not the answer, it is a change of heart.   God works from the inside out, change the man change the habits!   What He is saying is that the human race has a heart problem and it is much more than the physical.   The Lord then sounded out adds a solemn warning

                                      

                                    "If any man have ears to hear let him hear!"

On six separate occasions the Lord sounded out this warning.   We should listen to God at all times, but there are certain things we dare not miss;

1. Matthew 11v15                                     He is commencing a new dispensation.
2. Matthew13v9; Mark4v9; Luke8v8       God's word produces fruit when received.
3. Matthew 13v43                                     The human race will be divided eternally.
4. Mark 4v23                                             Nothing shall be hidden before God.
5. Mark 7v16                                             Defilement is in the heart.
6. Luke 14v35                                  When salt has lost it's preserving power it is useless.

These are major issues that require particular attention, if we hear (heed) nothing else we must hear (heed) these.....the nature of the present age, the importance of receiving God's word, the blessing or cursing for eternity, the ultimate exposure of all things, the problem of the human heart, and the tragic possibility of losing our testimony in this world.   Jesus uses the same formula when addressing the churches in Revelation chapters 2/3.   All these are serious matters to which we must give attention.

 Later He expounds this inherent heart defilement, which blights the entire race, and which no amount of external religion will cure.   He is going directly to the root of the problem, externalism attempts to deal with the fruit of human nature and not too well at that.   He charges the leaders with hypocrisy, spiritual acting, leading the people astray.   Things taken from outside the body also leave the body in the process of bodily purging provided in the design of creation;   however there is inherent defilement in the heart and when that is expressed it defiles us.   Only God can deal with the defiled human heart.   Listen to the solemnity of His words......"For from within, out of the heart of men proceed....." all kinds of evil, and He enumerates thirteen separate sins that are the produce of the corrupt human heart;   these defile a man and no amount of washing, or religious ceremony or religious association, or religious status will alter that.   We will consider each one, but first notice how He describes each one.   They are all evil things.....modern society may disagree but their argument is with God.   Here is what proceeds from the heart causing defilement of the soul;

• evil reasoning      the word for evil means worthless for thoughts which do not come from God are worthless;   reasoning suggests debates, discussions, philosophies, imaginations.   Genesis 6v5 "Every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually;   Genesis 8v21 "the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth."   Such is God's estimate of the heart of man, and nothing has changed since.
• adulteries            sexual betrayal of a life partner, breaking of the vows, treachery to one who loves you.
• fornications         "porneia" covering all forms of sexual deviancy, including extra marital sex, homosexuality, bestiality and the like.   God's word is clear "whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." Hebrews chapter 13v4.   
• murders                unlawful taking of human life, which we did not create and have no right to take away, except where God permits.   This is a serious crime for man was "made in the image of God" and any killing will bring accountability to God in whose image we are made.   Hear the words of God in connection with the first murder "Thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground."    This includes premeditated killing, unjust killing in war, abortions, and euthanasia.   We are guilty if we play God with any life in whom is the breath of God.
• thefts                    unlawful removal of other peoples property, whether material goods, money, intellectual property, identity, creations, inventions and the like.   As we know this is rife in modern society.
• covetousness        greed, wanting more than is due, seeking what others have.   This evil is said to be idolatry, making a god out of the possessions of others, never satisfied with our lot, the proverbial "green eyed monster."   This can take on many forms.
• wickedness           depravity, a mental disregard for all that is good and noble and righteous and just, according to the bible dictionary.   Takes in mental perversion, hypocrisy and iniquity.
• deceit                    trickery, conning, hiding true intentions, hidden agendas.   Strangely enough deception is not on the statute book of our law, possibly because it is rife in practice, possibly because it is too complex to unravel.   In biblical terms it is abomination to God and includes all forms of lying and hypocrisy and false teaching.
• lasciviousness     "asalgeia" without moral compass, degenerate, wanton behaviour.   The abandonment of all principles for good.   Reckless behaviour ignoring all boundaries of decency.
• the evil eye           hurtful, having the propensity to cause trouble for others.
• blasphemy           evil speaking, especially against dignitaries, and particularly abusive to God, bringing Him down to the commonplace.
• pride                     haughtiness, overestimating one's importance, puffed up.   God will bring down the proud because in relation to Himself they are shameful, and have nothing to pride themselves in.
• foolishness           irrational behaviour, senselessness, idiotic, the opposite of wise.

All these come out of a corrupt heart and indicate the explanation for what is everyday behaviour.   They are all evil and reflect evil thoughts, and actions and attitudes that are ungodly.   The above list is one of many such lists of the nature of sin residing in the human heart.   Others are found in Romans 1vv29-31; 1 Corinthians 5v11; 6v9; 2 Corinthians 12v20; Galatians 5v19-21; Ephesians 4v31; 5vv3-4; Colossians 3vv5-9; 2 Timothy 3vv2-5.   Taken together they are a swingeing indictment of the human condition and require much more than the plastering over the cracks by any form of man's religion.   Hearts that are evil to this extent need a transplant and only God can provide it.