Matthew 15:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Matthew 15:11

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

That which goeth

But

General references

Leviticus 11:2

Matthew 15:18

Luke 12:57

Bible References

That which goeth

there is nothing outside a man [such as food] which by going into him can defile him [morally or spiritually]; but the things which come out of [the heart of] a man are what defile and dishonor him.

The Pharisee noticed this and was surprised that Jesus did not first ceremonially wash before the meal.

But Peter said, “Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean.”

But I said, ‘Not at all, Lord; for nothing common (unholy) or [ceremonially] unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean.

For everything God has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;

To the pure, all things are pure; but to the corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure; both their mind and their conscience are corrupted.

Do not be carried away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and strengthened by grace and not by foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no benefit or spiritual growth to those who observe them.

But

But whatever [word] comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what defiles and dishonors the man.

You brood of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

His mouth is full of curses and deceit (fraud) and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness [injustice and sin].

They speak deceitful and worthless words to one another;
With flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

The wicked are estranged from the womb;
These go astray from birth, speaking lies [even twisted partial truths].

“Whom have you taunted and blasphemed?
And against whom have you raised your voice
And haughtily lifted up your eyes?
Against the Holy One of Israel!

For your hands are defiled with blood
And your fingers with wickedness [with sin, with injustice, with wrongdoing];
Your lips have spoken lies,
Your tongue mutters wickedness.

“They bend their tongue like their bow;
[Their] lies and not truth prevail and grow strong in the land;
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know and understand and acknowledge Me,” says the Lord.

“Their throat is an open grave;
They [habitually] deceive with their tongues.”
“The venom of asps is beneath their lips.”

In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!

For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.

General references

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Among all the animals which are on the earth, these are the animals which you may eat.

But whatever [word] comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what defiles and dishonors the man.

“And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?