Instruction
Scripture: Mark7:14-23
After a confrontation with the Pharisees about setting aside
God’s Word and favoring human traditions, Jesus took to opportunity to teach
about what makes a person unclean. It was not, as the Pharisees had accused the
disciples in this case, a matter of whether one’s hands were washed or not.
Rather it is the deeds which reflect the state of the heart that defile a
person. This text points to the true problem of the human condition – the
sinfulness of our hearts. It leaves us without any hope in our power to save
ourselves.
Teaching
It is curious that this reading was separated from last
week’s reading as it is the obvious conclusion to the scenario of eating with
unwashed hands. While the Pharisees looked at the outside for obedience to
certain traditions and rituals to determine if a person was defiled or not,
Jesus put the cause of defilement closer to home: the heart. Indeed, He argued
that the things we put into our bodies from the outside pass through after
being used up. It is the behavior that is rooted in the sins of our hearts that
defiles us. This makes for a pretty hopeless situation. How do we change our
hearts.
This text does not speak directly to that need for a new
heart, but other places in Scripture do. Psalm 51 calls out to God for a clean
heart, and we know that it is Jesus’ blood that cleanses us of all our sins.
Life
In verse 21 Jesus provides a useful list for us to examine
our hearts for the attitudes and desires that cause the sinful acts that defile
us. Look at the list: evil thoughts,
sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit,
sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. Let’s examine ourselves
for these things in our hearts and call upon Jesus to purify us and give us
clean hearts.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Confession and Petition.
Lord Jesus, we confess to You that our lives are defiled by
the sinful acts which come out of us. We have all of the evil thoughts You
describe in the heart of man. Please hear our individual confessions as we
recognize our evil thoughts (confess any
of these sins that come to mind as you pray)…, sexual immorality …, theft
…, murder …, adultery …, coveting …, wickedness …, deceit …, sensuality …, envy
…, slander …, pride …, and foolishness ….
Lord, change my heart so that it will no longer be a source
of defilement in my life, but will be a place filled with Your Spirit and
flowing with good deeds. Do not let me be fooled by externals but live freely
in regard to the world, but always being mindful of my heart and how You are
honored there. Amen.
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