Matthew 15:10-20 - Defilement From Within

¹⁰ And he called the multitude, and said to them, Hear, and understand: ¹¹ Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

¹² Then came his disciples, and said to him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after they heard this saying?

¹³ But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be extirpated. ¹⁴ Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leadeth the blind, both will fall into the ditch.

¹⁵ Then answered Peter and said to him, Declare to us this parable.

¹⁶ And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? ¹⁷ Do ye not yet understand, that whatever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the 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 unwashen hands defileth not a man.

¹⁴ And when he had called all the people to him, he said to them, Hearken to me every one of you, and understand. ¹⁵ There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him, can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. ¹⁶ If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁷ And when he had entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. ¹⁸ And he saith to them, Are ye so void of understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him. ¹⁹ Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all kinds of food. ²⁰ And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; ²³ All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.