What did Jesus mean by 'what comes out of a person defiles them'?

When Jesus said, "What comes out of a person defiles them," He was addressing a profound truth about the nature of human sin and purity. This statement is found in the Gospel of Mark, specifically in Mark 7:20-23, where Jesus says:

"What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person."

To fully grasp the depth of this teaching, we need to understand the context in which Jesus spoke these words. The Jewish religious leaders of His time placed a significant emphasis on ritual purity and external observance of the Law. They had a complex system of rules and traditions, especially concerning what foods were clean or unclean and the proper ways to wash before eating. These practices were detailed in the Torah and further elaborated in the oral traditions known as the Mishnah.

In Mark 7, the Pharisees and some teachers of the law confronted Jesus because His disciples were eating with "defiled" hands, meaning they had not gone through the traditional ceremonial washing. Jesus responded to their criticism by quoting Isaiah 29:13:

"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules."

Jesus was challenging a superficial approach to righteousness. His statement about what defiles a person shifts the focus from external practices to the condition of the heart. By doing so, He was not dismissing the Law but rather fulfilling it by revealing its ultimate purpose: to guide people into a deeper, heart-level relationship with God.

The heart, in biblical terms, represents the core of a person's being, including their thoughts, desires, and will. Proverbs 4:23 emphasizes the importance of the heart:

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

Jesus' teaching underscores that true defilement is not about external factors but internal corruption. The list of evils He provides—sexual immorality, theft, murder, etc.—all originate from within a person's heart. These sins manifest outwardly but have their roots in the inner life.

This teaching has profound implications for how we understand sin and righteousness. It calls us to examine our inner lives and recognize that outward conformity to religious practices is not sufficient. We must address the internal sources of sin. This is echoed in other parts of the New Testament. For instance, in James 1:14-15, we read:

"But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

James emphasizes that sin begins with evil desires within us. This aligns with Jesus' teaching that it is what comes out from within that defiles us.

Moreover, Jesus' focus on the heart is consistent with the broader biblical narrative. In the Old Testament, God often expressed a desire for His people to have hearts aligned with His will. For example, in Ezekiel 36:26, God promises:

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

This promise points to the transformative work God intends to do within us, changing our very nature so that we can live in true righteousness.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul expands on this idea in his letters. In Romans 7:18-20, Paul describes the struggle with sin that originates from within:

"For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."

Paul acknowledges the internal battle with sin and the need for divine intervention. He later provides the solution in Romans 8:1-2:

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

Through Jesus Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to overcome the sinful desires that originate from within. This transformation is a central theme of the Christian faith, highlighting the need for inner renewal rather than mere external compliance.

Furthermore, Jesus' teaching about what defiles a person calls us to a higher standard of self-examination and repentance. It challenges us to look beyond our actions and consider the motivations and desires that drive them. This introspection is crucial for genuine spiritual growth and aligns with the call to holiness found throughout Scripture.

In practical terms, living out this teaching means cultivating a heart that seeks after God. It involves regular self-examination, confession of sin, and reliance on the Holy Spirit for transformation. Spiritual disciplines like prayer, meditation on Scripture, and community accountability play vital roles in this process.

Additionally, it is essential to understand that Jesus' teaching does not negate the importance of outward actions but places them in their proper context. Our actions should flow from a transformed heart. As Jesus said in Matthew 12:33-35:

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

Our words and deeds are the fruit of what is stored in our hearts. Therefore, the transformation of the heart is paramount.

In conclusion, when Jesus said, "What comes out of a person defiles them," He was emphasizing the importance of the heart in matters of sin and purity. He challenged the superficial focus on external rituals and called His followers to a deeper, heart-level righteousness. This teaching aligns with the broader biblical narrative that highlights the need for inner transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit. By focusing on the heart, we can address the root causes of sin and live in a way that truly honors God.