Matthew 15: What Defiles a Person? (Written by my Wife)

 Matthew 15: What Defiles a person?

In Matthew 15, Jesus again tries to teach the Pharisees that the traditions of men are hypocritical.

Rather than focusing on the conditions of their hearts, they worry what they eat.

He calls them "blind" because they fail to see that by creating their own laws, they demean God's ways. 

(Mattthew 15:7-20) [Jesus said,] "Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.'"

And He called the multitude, and said unto them, "Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."

Then came His disciples, and said unto him, "Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"

But He answered and said, "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

Then answered Peter and said unto Him, "Declare unto us this parable."

And Jesus said, "Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."