Mark 7:22   When we consider carefully the list we see here we realize that it is not this material world that is evil. Yes, it is damaged, but it was perfect, and has the potential to be perfect again. It is in the heart of man, however, that we find the source of evil in…

Mark 7:21   The influence of the heart upon the mind, that is where the problem lies. The heart is directly tied to the mind. Our physical brains are the interface for our mindful selves. Our heart is in direct control of that self-consciousness. Evil thinking is really the essence of our problem, but that originates…

Mark 7:20   The things which originate in our sinful soul are what gets us in trouble. The evil that proceeds from us is the real issue. Job 41:1-Psalm 4:8 James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? Heavenly Father, thank you for the peace…

Mark 7:19   Here we see the contrast between the material and immaterial parts of man. When Jesus speaks of the heart here he is not referring to the organ that pumps blood. So the physical digestive process is not the source of sin, though it is affected by sin as part of our flesh.   Instead,…

Mark 7:18   Jesus asks them why they still didn’t get it. The confusion was in part due to their misunderstanding of the issue. The Jewish leaders spoke of defilement. They had carried this idea over from the laws ‘unclean’ laws. They had taken this concept in a direction not intended by the law.   Some have…

Mark 7:17We often tend to fail to understand even when God has made his message to us quite plain. The disciples wanted to discuss this one because they recognised what an important teaching it was. They wanted to make sure they knew what he meant. Job 32:1-34:37 James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye…

Mark 7:16   Jesus makes it abundantly clear that he expects what he is saying to be understandable and applicable to his hearers. They would have no excuse if they missed his message. Job 29:1-31:40 James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in…

Mark 7:15   Righteousness has not to do with what enters our bodies, but what comes out of them. Though it is difficult for us to see, God’s laws are not designed to keep us from taking things into us, but to prevent evil from coming out of us. The heart is evil, that we know…

Mark 7:14   As I have emphasized many times before, Jesus was above all else a teacher. He would let his followers know when he was about to say something important. In this case he calls the crowd closer to him and instructs them, his disciples, and the Jewish leaders.   Jesus seems to love to remind…

Mark 7:13   The Word of God was being marginalized by their traditions. They felt their traditions carried a lot of weight since they had held to them for so very long. There were many traditions of the Jews disruptive to the word of God. Job 17:1-20:29 James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and…