RE Verse reading–Mark 7:1-23 (day three)
Verse 14 begins a lesson on the heart of man. The heart is the source of our actions. Jesus made reference to concerns of the Pharisees…they were worried about the cleanliness of the hands, the utensils, and what was eaten. Jesus said, it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles the man, because it enters the stomach and is eliminated. What man needs to be concerned with are the thoughts and actions that come out of his heart…those are the things that defile. Evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness…quite a list of wrongs! The source for these is our sinful heart. Only Jesus can cleanse our heart, only He can replace these evil actions with the fruits of the Spirit. Ephesians 5:26 says be cleansed with the washing of the water of the word…let Jesus’ Word cleanse your defiled heart. He will! …He promised in 1 John 1:9!
