Tag: Bible verses about what’s in our heart

Matthew 15:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

As Jesus spent more time in public, He drew more and more criticism from the religious leaders of that day.

The things He taught bothered them, so they sought to discredit Him.

At that same time, Jesus began to tear down many of the old traditions that they clung to in their ritualistic worship of God.

So, as they questioned Him as to why His disciples didn’t (ceremonially) wash their hands before eating bread, Jesus turned the tables on them and put them on the spot.

His intention wasn’t to persecute them, but to try to get them to see their own hypocrisy in the fact that while they followed their traditions rigorously (mechanically), they failed to honor God by following His commandments.

Later, when His disciples questioned Him about this, He explained that it’s not what we put into our mouth that defiles us, but what comes out of it. For what comes out is driven by what’s in our heart.

And that’s what really matters.

Let us not be like the religious leaders who were more concerned with tradition than they were with their relationship with God.

We need to let God cleanse us from the inside, out, that our hearts may be purified and guarded against the evil things that corrupt us.

Matthew 15:18-20 (NKJV) 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Pastor Curt & Pastor Ellie

Seven Seas Ministries
49 N Lamplighters Walk
Hampstead, NC 28443

401-439-3780