Matthew 15:16-20, New International Version

“‘Are you still so dull?’ Jesus asked them. ^’Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.’”

We all encounter things that affect us in our lives. In some way, shape, or form, it comes out. Perhaps it is a trigger point for some of us. Before we know it, we are grumbling under our breath because we are frustrated or upset by something that someone has said or done. When we have finished grumbling, it hasn’t really done anything to make us feel better. If anything, it just reinforced how we were feeling at the moment. This week I was reading my Bible. I came upon a scripture that came straight from the mouth of Jesus that totally spoke to my heart and to this situation I just described above. 

“Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.’” (Matthew 15:10-11, NIV)

“’Are you still so dull?’ Jesus asked them. ^‘Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.’” (Matthew 15:16-20, NIV)

What words are coming from our mouth at a moment that just happens? What are we grumbling or complaining about under our breath? We need to be able to understand that we are not perfect, we are human, and this is why we need Jesus, our Savior. He doesn’t condemn us, but perhaps things come up because He is trying to show us something that we need to deal with in a healthy way. Perhaps something happened in the past that was said or done to hurt us and every time something similar happens to that account, it causes a reaction out of us that produces something ugly.

When I read that scripture, immediately I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me of another scripture.

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” (Luke 6:45, NLT)

These were also words from Jesus. We all need healing from various things that we have encountered in our lives. We all need to be able to forgive as well. Otherwise, these things become evil in our heart and produce evil things. These things defile us.  I am reminded of David when he said, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:10-12, NIV) This is my heart’s cry not just for myself, but for us all. I pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us through whatever process needed for: forgiveness, healing, trusting Him, whatever it takes, for us to be clean vessels set apart for His glory and purpose. In Jesus name, Amen.