Matthew 15:10-20 - Defilement From Within

¹⁰ Then he called the multitude and said to them, hear and understand. ¹¹ that which entereth by the mouth is not what defiles a man: but what defiles the man is that which is discharged by the mouth.

¹² Thereupon his disciples drawing nigh, said, did you observe, how the Pharisees were scandalized at your discourse?

¹³ but he answered, every plantation which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up. ¹⁴ let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. now if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

¹⁵ then Peter said to him, tell us the meaning of that expression.

¹⁶ and Jesus said, are ye also yet without understanding? ¹⁷ do not ye yet conceive, that whatever enters at the mouth, passes to the belly, and is discharged downwards? ¹⁸ but what proceeds out of the mouth, is deriv'd from the heart, and that defiles the man. ¹⁹ out of the heart proceed evil designs, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, slanders. ²⁰ these are the things which defile a man: but to eat without washing one's hands, that does not defile a man.

¹⁴ Then Jesus having called all the people to him, said, attend every one of you, and understand. ¹⁵ there is nothing from without, that entring into a man can defile him: but that which originally proceeds from the man, is what defiles him. ¹⁶ he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁷ When he withdrew from the people into the house, his disciples ask'd him the meaning of that maxim. ¹⁸ and he said, are you likewise so void of understanding? don't you perceive that what passes from without into a man cannot defile him? ¹⁹ because that does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, whence it is discharg'd, the purest part of the food being left for nutrition. ²⁰ but, said he, that which proceeds from a man, is what defiles him: ²¹ for from within, from the heart of man proceed wicked designs, adulteries, fornications, murders; thefts, ²² avarice, malice, fraud, impudence, envy, scandal, pride, vanity. ²³ all these vices come from within, and are what defile the man.