Mark 7: 14-23
Do We Not Understand?
4 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” 20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”
Sometimes we are blind to the obvious. Jesus clearly points out that it is the thoughts and feelings within us that defile us, not dust nor dirt from without. Evil lurks in our hearts and that is what defiles us, that is what we must cleanse and for which we must ask forgiveness. as in AA recovery mode, we first need to acknowledge the evil things so clearly enumerated by Jesus in verses 21 and 22, and then we can proceed to eliminate them.Admission of guilt is the first step to spiritual recovery.
Bro Rene
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