"PASSAGES TO PONDER"

Defilements Of The Heart

INTRODUCTION
  1. In "Beatitudes Of The Kingdom", we found Jesus describing...
    1. The blessedness of those who would be citizens of the kingdom
    2. The character of those who would be citizens of the kingdom
  2. The character of those who would enter the kingdom of heaven include...
    1. Poor in spirit - humble, cognizant of their spiritual poverty
    2. Mourn - especially in regards to their sinfulness
    3. Hunger and thirst for righteousness - in response to their sinful condition
  3. Yet many people do not appreciate the extent of their spiritual poverty and need for righteousness...
    1. How evil their hearts can be - Ec 9:3
    2. How wicked their hearts can become - Jer 17:9

[Jesus, who knew the hearts of men (cf. Mk 2:8; Re 2:23) vividly described "The Defilements Of The Heart" in Mk 7:21-23. To fully appreciate what Jesus said, let's first review...]

  1. THE CONTEXT
    1. THE CHALLENGE BY THE PHARISEES...
      1. Jesus' disciples eat with defiled hands! - Mk 7:1-2
      2. By failing to follow the tradition of the elders to wash their hands! - Mk 7:3-5
    2. THE RESPONSE BY JESUS...
      1. First, to the Pharisees - Mk 7:6-13
        1. They let traditions supplant God's Word
        2. Making their worship hypocritical and vain
        3. Case in point: 'Corban' as an excuse not to care for parents
        4. Rendering the Word of God of no effect through their tradition
      2. Second, to the multitude - Mk 7:14-16
        1. Nothing that enters from the outside defiles a man
        2. True defilement comes from within a man
      3. Third, to His disciples - Mk 7:17-23
        1. Who asked Him to explain His parable
        2. Jesus uses the intake of food to illustrate His point
          1. Which passes through the stomach and is eliminated
          2. Thus purifying all foods - cf. 1Ti 4:3-5
        3. He then describes that which cause true defilement
          1. That which comes out of a man
          2. Evil which proceeds from the heart of man

          [The Pharisees were guilty of emphasizing traditions of men in the form of external rituals, to the point of neglecting the Word of God. Jesus addressed the real problem: "The Defilements Of The Heart"...]

  2. THE MEANING
    1. MAN HAS A HEART PROBLEM...
      1. His heart is source of much evil - Mk 7:21-22
      2. It is this evil that defiles him - Mk 7:23
    2. EVIL THOUGHTS LEAD TO TRUE DEFILEMENT...
      1. Evil thoughts
        1. The general term translated 'evil thoughts' precedes the verb in the Greek text and is viewed as the root of various evils which follow - Bible Knowledge Commentary
        2. Evil thoughts generated in a heart unite with one's will to produce evil words and actions - ibid.
      2. Adulteries - illicit sexual relations by a married person
      3. Fornications - illicit sexual activities of various kinds (including pre-marital sex, homosexuality)
      4. Murders - taking life intentionally
      5. Thefts - stealing (which includes shoplifting, pilfering)
      6. Covetousness - greediness, which makes one an idolater - Ep 5:5; Col 3:5
      7. Wickedness - evil acts done with malice
      8. Deceit - acting with guile and intent to defraud
      9. Lewdness - unrestrained and unconcealed immoral behavior
      10. An evil eye - a Hebrew idiom for stinginess - Pr 28:22
      11. Blasphemy - slander, verbal abuse against God or man
      12. Pride - arrogance, boastful opinion of one's self, often with disdain toward others
      13. Foolishness - lack of common sense, with moral and spiritual insensitivity

      [Implied is that human traditions with their external rituals do not seriously address the real problem man faces: defilement caused by sinful hearts! Accordingly, let's make...]

  3. THE APPLICATION
    1. WE MUST TAKE THE PROBLEM SERIOUSLY...
      1. Mankind has always had a heart problem - Gen 6:5; 8:21
      2. Thus we are all sinners - Jm 1:14-15; Ro 3:23
      3. As such we are enslaved to the power of sin - Jn 8:34; cf. Ro 7:18-20
      4. Unless the problem of sin is adequately addressed...
        1. We will die spiritually - Ro 6:23
        2. We will die eternally - Re 21:8
    2. THE SOLUTION IS FOUND IN THE WORD OF GOD...
      1. It contains the power to save our souls - Jm 1:21
      2. It points us to Jesus, who offers true freedom from sin - Jn 8:31-32,36
      3. Jesus offers freedom from:
        1. The guilt of sin, through His blood - Mt 26:28; Ep 1:7
        2. The power of sin, through His Spirit (Holy Spirit) - Ro 8:9, 12-13; Ep 3:16
    3. JESUS OFFERS THE SOLUTION TO SIN...
      1. Initially in baptism:
        1. Where we receive the remission of sins - Ac 2:38; cf. Ac 22:16
        2. Where we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - Ac 2:38; cf. Tit 3:5-7
      2. Continually through prayer:
        1. When we confess our sins, there is forgiveness through His blood - 1Jn 1:9
        2. When we ask for help, there is strength from the indwelling Spirit - Ep 3:16,20-21
CONCLUSION
  1. Do we appreciate the problem of sin in our lives...?
    1. How it proceeds from a spiritually sick heart?
    2. How easily we become enslaved to sin?
    3. How devastating it is on our relationships with God and man?
  2. Do we appreciate the solution to sin that Jesus offers...?
    1. The shedding of His blood to atone for our sins?
    2. The sending of His Spirit to empower our fight against sin?
  3. The "Defilements Of The Heart" is a passage worthy of careful meditation...
    1. Reminding us of the seriousness of our heart problem
    2. Reminding us of the solution to be found in Him who knows our heart

Are we willing to follow the prescription of the "Great Physician"...? - cf. Mk 16:15-16; 1Jn 1:9