And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
In this part of Matthew 15, when Jesus calls the people to Himself, it tells us that the people were standing off some distance. They had given Jesus and the Pharisees room to talk about the intricacies of tradition and law. Perhaps they stood back out of respect, or perhaps they simply wanted to watch from a distance as the conversation volleyed back and forth between Jesus and the Pharisees.* Whichever the case, Jesus calls the people to Himself to share the real rules of defilement.
Why does this matter? Navigating around those things that defile according to Jewish tradition took a lot of care and intention. Everything from what was eaten or not eaten to what was touched or not touched and what to do if you came in contact with something defiling was informed by traditions and rituals. To hear the words of Jesus on this subject could change everything, and it did.
Jesus explained that while their focus was outward on their actions and their rules, real defilement comes as the heart is exposed through the river of words flowing from our mouth. In typical Jesus fashion, He takes the conversation to a deeper place of the heart.
I spent a lot of my life attempting to adhere to every rule that I could find. I still value the rules, and I still attempt to live by them as Jesus said, "If you love me, obey my commends.” What I don’t do, however, is attempt to find my acceptance from God by performing well. Meaning, I no longer attempt to avoid defilement through crossing “t’s” and dotting “i’s.” I try to pay more attention to what is coming out of me and what that says about my heart. Am I perfect at it? Not at all. Sometimes I forget to pay attention, and other times I don’t want to pay attention because pretending I’m good is easier than seeing that I’m not. Boy am I grateful for the good work of Christ in my life!
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to pay attention. What’s coming out of your mouth? What does it say about your heart? Perhaps God wants you to release the burden of doing every single thing right. Actions matter, but heart is everything. Maybe God wants to call you close and speak something to you that will change everything.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 394–395, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 15:3–11) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).